Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 12:
As part of series of workshops organised by Wildlife Trust of India, a New Delhi based NGO through its capacity building network, Wildlife Rehabilitators Exchange Network (WREN) under the sponsorship of International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), a two day workshop on wildlife rehabilitation for veterinarians began from today at Hotel Imphal.
The workshop was organised with Manipur Forest Department as host.
However none of the officials from the Forest Department came to attend the workshop on the inaugural day.
The workshop primarily focus on training the veterinarians in drug immobilization, handling and restraint of wild animals and rehabilitation of rescued animals.
NVK Ashraf who spoke on the wildlife rehabilitation highlighted the activities taken up the trust as regards to wildlife rehabilitation in other parts of the country especially in Assam.
He dwelt on length the difference between rehabilitation centres, zoos and other captive facilities and their roles in conservation.
He added that the trust is presently involved in translocating Rhinos from Kaziranga park to Manas sanctuary.
On the second home for Manipur's Sangai, he said that political decision is the need of the hour for translocating the animal from the natural habitat at Keibul Lamjao National park as there is every danger of the rare endangered species being wipe out once an epidemic strikes the animals.
Kadambari Mainkar, asst manager, rehabilitation WTI spokes on the principles of wildlife rehabilitation.
Salam Rajesh, former journalist and environmentalist spoke on the length the practical problems faced by the people working in rescuing wild animals.
He expressed the inability of people engaged in rescuing animals like People for Animals (PFA) from following the guidelines of IUCN.
He said that the threat issued to PFA members by the Forest Dept regarding the handling of animals act as a deterrent step as they are refrained from rescuing any animals falls under schedule 1 of Wildlife Protective Act.
Lamenting on non-existent of Mobile Veterinary ambulance in the State, he said that it acts as great impediment while rescuing animals from far flung areas as most of the rescued animals succumbed to injuries compounded by lack of tranquillisers in treating injured animals.