Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation

Kaziranga: India’s only scientifically managed wildlife rehabilitation and re-introduction centre, based in the north east Indian state of Assam, today completed its first successful year of operation, releasing a record 67 animals back into the wild.

The Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), was established by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Department of Forest and Environment, Government of Assam, and supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Located adjacent to the Kaziranga National Park, CWRC has attended to 141 cases till date and has eight animals in its care, including three elephant calves, a wild buffalo and a greater one horned rhino calf, an infant hoolock gibbon and a leopard among others.

Center vet , Dr. Bhaskar Chaudhry, treating an injured hog badger

Inaugurated last year by Assam’s Forest Minister, Pradyut Bordoloi at Borjuri, the project has also been supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

“ Though the CWRC is in its infancy, it has still managed to make a difference to the wildlife in the Kaziranga Park and its surrounding areas. Its rescue work during the last two floods is particularly noteworthy. Am very hopeful that this good work continues and it can grow bigger with time,” project leader and park director, N.K Vasu, said.

“We attended a record number of 141 rescue cases in Assam. Of these, the CWRC could successfully treat and release 67 animals back to their natural habitat. Eight animals, which were either orphaned or needed prolonged care, have been kept at the CWRC for further care, “ Rathin Burman, Centre Manager added.

A bay owl being treated at the CWRC

During the past one year, the CWRC also attended 20 rescue calls in various parts of Assam, covering eight forest divisions with the help of its Mobile Veterinary Service (MVS) ambulances. A more recent case of rescue, treatment and subsequent release by the CWRC mobile veterinary unit has been that of an elephant calf that was trapped in a noose trap laid by poachers near the Kaziranga National Park on July 29, 2003. CWRC has so far rescued, treated and reunited three elephant calves with their natal herds, a feat not formally recorded in any of the Asian elephant range countries.

“The CWRC plans to rehabilitate the orphans in their custody using international experience and after familiarising its staff WITH techniques developed in Africa and other continents,” WTI executive director Vivek Menon said. “As rehabilitation is not a developed subject in India, our Wild Rescue team is developing protocols, which would be used only after approval by the Government of India.”

The CWRC has been crucially involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of animals during the annual floods caused by the river Brahmaputra that inundates the Kaziranga National Park. This year it ran two ambulances with three additional veterinarians rehabilitating 21 animals.

The CWRC is equipped with enclosures for herbivores, carnivores, nocturnal animals and birds. A special enclosure for its herd of three rapidly growing elephants is being designed. The Centre also has a fully equipped animal clinic and an operation theatre to conduct minor surgeries.

More pictures of CWRC in action