Bengaluru, 13 Oct (H.S.):

The Karnataka Forest Department plans to create a dedicated cadre of wildlife veterinarians to strengthen its response to human-wildlife conflict, animal rescues and emergencies across the state.

The department is exploring partnerships with leading veterinary colleges to equip doctors with practical skills in wildlife care. A proposal outlining the initiative will be submitted to the state government, a forest department official said.

Officials said the proposed cadre would address a shortage of veterinarians experienced in handling wild animals. Most doctors currently available have primarily treated domestic animals and require additional training for wildlife assignments.

“We need veterinarians with field experience and expertise in animal behaviour, forensic examination, diseases, anaesthesia and the safe handling of animals using anaesthetic drugs,” an official said.

Under the proposed programme, veterinarians would work alongside forest personnel during field operations. Training would include collecting animal faecal samples for disease investigations, rescuing young animals and assisting in their safe relocation.

The department also wants a dedicated team to monitor the health of livestock and domestic animals near forests and respond to wildlife deaths. Officials said trained personnel would enable faster interventions and improve coordination during emergencies.

Training would be tailored to the wildlife and operational challenges of individual regions. In Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Ramanagara districts, the emphasis would be on handling tigers, other big cats and elephants.

In Ballari and Vijayapura, veterinarians would receive training focused on grassland wildlife and birds, reflecting the different conservation needs of these landscapes.

The proposed college partnerships are expected to facilitate the sharing of expertise and support specialised training and operational centres across Karnataka, extending facilities beyond Bengaluru and Mysuru.

Officials envisage a network of regionally trained veterinarians who can assist forest teams with rescue, disease surveillance and wildlife management, helping the department build a more coordinated response to emerging challenges.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman