GUWAHATI, Jan 21 — The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), as a part of the wild rescue programme, is setting up the first wildlife rehabelitation center of the north-eastern region near the Kaziranga National Park (KNP). WTI sources revealed that the Center will involve in rescue of temporarily disadvantaged wild animals, which have been injured, maimed, orphaned, sick or stray in addition to those that have been confiscated from animal traders. The motive is to give adequate treatment to such animals and return them to their natural environment. The center was proposed by the WTI and is a collaborative project with the State Forest Department.
The project is also being supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment of the Government of India. Steps have been initiated to involve organisations like the Central Zoo Authority, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, etc. The participation of Gauhati University and the college of veterinary sciences is also sought, WTI sources said. The WTI plans to collaborate with these organiations to develop a state-of-the-art facility, which will be the first scientifically managed wildlife rehabilitation and reintroduction center in the country.
The missions of the center will be to rescue temporarily disadvantaged wild animals, to optimise the conservation and reintroduction potential of the rescued wild animals, promote ethical and humane methods of handling, maintenance in captivity and veterinary care and release the rescued animals back to their natural habitats by following prescribed standard international guideline. Steps will be taken to ensure that the behavioural, conservation and health status of the rescued wild animals are not endangered during the confinement, so as to ensure that the reintroduction potential of the animals is not diminished, sources added.