Salem: In a first, jumbos get ambulance

Salem: A specially designed wildlife ambulance to rescue elephants and wild animals has been pressed into service by the Forest department at Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR).

The ambulance with hydraulic lifting facility can be used to rescue animals in conflict.

“Rescuing problematic elephants using lorries is a challenging task as ramps had to be set up in jungles for the pachyderms to get into the vehicle. Under such circumstances the newly-designed vehicle comes in as great relief as elephants can easily be loaded and unloaded without much effort,” said K. Ashokan, Forest Veterinary Officer, STR.

He also said that at times, Forest department personnel, who are involved in monitoring wildlife, could stay inside the ambulance and need not retreat from jungles after dark.

"It is spacious enough to accommodate up to 20 persons," Mr Ashokan said.
Elephant mortality is likely to come down with the new facility as the jumbos can easily be rescued and treated on time using this first-of-its-kind ambulance for wildlife. Just in the last one year, ten elephants, which were trapped in slush, sick ones and those slipped into well were rescued at the STR.

Moreover, a veterinary hospital and lab has been set up at the Bhavani Sagar forest range to rescue wild animals, treat them, test their blood samples and carry out research activities on the conservation front. The State government has also sanctioned similar facilities for the forest divisions in Tirunelveli and Hosur, said sources.  

The advanced facilities have come up in the wake of rampant incidents of wild animals straying out of forest cover in search of food and water following a persistent drought in the jungles. Besides causing damage to farm lands, the straying pachyderms also leave public frightened in villages bordering forests.