Odisha to set up wildlife veterinary hospital in Chandaka forest to protect elephants

Odisha government has decided to set up a world-class wildlife veterinary hospital in  Chandaka forest area. state government will also be adopting a focused intervention approach for  'development of elephant habitats' in state.

This decision was taken on Saturday during  state-level meeting on 'Elephant protection and conservation in Odisha' which was held under chairmanship of Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy to intensify elephant protection and conservation activities in elephant habitats like Mahanadi, Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur reserves spreading over around 8,509 square kilometers. 

Meanwhile, elephant population in India has shown an urd trend in last seven years. 

According to state government,  veterinary wildlife hospital could be developed to a center of excellence with advanced kwledge, equipment, research, and development activities.

After Additional Chief Secretary, Dr. Mona Sharma appraised about existing 14 elephant corridors, it was decided to develop two corridors-- Similipal-Hadgarh and Barunai-Nuagada, as well as three underpasses on NH-55 in Dhenkanal, Redhakhol, and Athmallik forest divisions to save elephants from traffic accidents.

Furr, according to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Harisankar Upadhaya, as per a study conducted by Asian Nature Conservation Foundation Center for Ecological Sciences of IIS, Bengaluru, around 1,700-1,800 elephants can be sustainably mand within larger forest landscapes of Odisha. Reportedly, in 1999, total elephant population was 1,827, while in 2017 it went up to 1,976. 

Read: Cyclone Amphan: Odisha Forest Department rescues injured American Brown Pelicans

Odisha Govt deploys veterinary teams 

Meanwhile, several migratory birds who were injured due to severe cyclonic storm -- Cyclone Amphan, are being treated in state. Reportedly, 75 veterinary teams have been deployed in affected areas for ensuring animal care, along with 79 veterinary doctors and 310 para-vets. Furr, 32 animal health camps have been organised and around 1,242 of animals have been treated.

Read: Odisha: Migrants travel on trailer truck packed with tractors to reach home amid lockdown

Nearly 45 lakh people in Odisha have been affected by extremely severe cyclonic storm-- Cyclone Amphan, which fiercely rolled past state's coast and made landfall on Wednesday, uprooting trees and flattening fragile dwellings.  power infrastructure and farm sector had also suffered considerable dam, while telecommunication infrastructure is largely intact with minimal impact in state. 

Read: Odisha preps for singing state song at 5.30 pm to show solidarity with Covid warriors

Read: Odisha govt anunces exemption of road tax for passenger buses for three months

(With ANI Inputs)