Only two months ago, a flapshell turtle’s carapace, which became depressed when a tractor’s wheel rolled over it, was elevated using titanium plates and screws. Meanwhile, the veterinary team at Pingori’s Ela Habitat in Purandar tehsil (Pune district) performed intraoral surgery on the venomous Indian spectacled cobra at the transit treatment centre.
“There was a break in the mouth of the cobra, and there was serious bleeding. the local farmers helped and took the animal to us at our centre. By using a mouth-gasp and placing the cobra in pipes and the tail part being kept by the team, the X-rays were taken, and the bony piece which was protruding out was cut so they could ensure that sharp points did no more harmed,” Dr Satish Pande known as an ornithologist and director of the Villoo C Poonawalla Hospital for Wildlife that will officially be inaugurated on September 30th, said. Another case was reported where a peacock that was sluggish was treated following an X-ray test that revealed the presence of a malarial parasite.
Maharashtra Forest Department and nature conservation NGO Ela Foundation have set up Villoo C Poonawalla Hospital for Wildlife in the Ela Habitat, Pingori, which has been able to treat and rewild more than 150 animals. The work performed at the centre for transit treatment was acknowledged by Dr Cyrus S Poonawalla, chairman and managing director of Serum Institute of India, who gave a generous grant, as per a source. A new facility was constructed in Ela Habitat, which, together with cages, containment areas, and enclosures, can be found on an area of more than 10,000 sq feet. The facility has been renamed Villoo C Poonawalla Hospital for Wildlife.
If contacted, Vivek Khandekar, additional chief conservator of forest in Pune, said to indianexpress.com that transit treatment facilities are typically used to treat wild animals that have suffered injuries caused by natural causes or from any other attack.
“Majority of our wild animals live in rural areas that have the absence of state-of-the-art treatments for wildlife. Wildlife suffering due to natural causes, traumatized by accidents on the roads, as well as those trapped by snares, are taken care of and treated. The transport of sick animals to urban areas causes stress for animals as well as higher mortality, and prompt medical treatment in rural areas is essential,” Dr Pande, the founder of the Ela Foundation, said.
The veterinary hospital is equipped with the infrastructure to offer the most advanced medical and diagnostic care. The facilities include radiology, images, pathology, an examination facility, an operating theatre as well as nursing facilities, sterilization units and a food preparation kitchen. quarantine treatment and recovery area, transfer cages, squeeze cages for rehabilitation, and a rehabilitation facility. The research is carried out with the aim of monitoring zoonotic diseases. The Wild Animal Anatomy Repository will be created for educational purposes for forest and veterinary departments, according to a source.
It is necessary to stimulate the development of vultures… Cyrus Poonawalla
If contacted by Dr Cyrus Poonawalla, chairman and managing director of the SII, was informed by indianexpress.com through email the goal was to stimulate the growth of vultures, as the Parsis require to have them for their burial purposes. “There are a lot of Wildlife Conservation initiatives where budgets are astronomically high. But, the one presented by Dr Satish Pande appeared real and feasible. So, I’ve decided to endorse the idea. I’m hoping it’ll do well and that they can attract more donors to help further develop the project,” Dr Poonawalla said.
