By Monica Verma | Officer in Charge
The history of wildlife rehabilitation likely spans the history of civilization. For ages, humans have tended to injured and distressed wildlife with compassion, albeit with rudimentary knowledge. Even when successful, they often faced the dilemma of whether to release the animals into the wild or keep them in captivity, resulting in many animals being confined.
From these early beginnings, the discipline of wildlife rehabilitation has evolved significantly. As rehabilitators' skills improved, techniques became more sophisticated, integrating biological and veterinary sciences. Today, specialized rehabilitation facilities employ full-time staff, including biologists and veterinarians. Carefully developed protocols ensure the welfare of rehabilitating animals, with thorough monitoring of their health and behavior during both rehabilitation and post-release phases.
In India, scientific rehabilitation of rescued wildlife began in 2002 when WTI, IFAW, and the Assam Forest Department established the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) in Kaziranga, Assam. At the time, wildlife rehabilitation as a formal discipline was still in its nascent stages in the country. CWRC remains India's sole facility where orphaned, injured, or displaced wild animals receive veterinary care before being released back into the wild.
Kaziranga in Assam, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was strategically chosen for CWRC due to its rich natural resources, primarily nourished by alluvial deposits from the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries. This floodplain ecosystem supports diverse species, including significant populations of mega-herbivores like the greater one-horned rhinoceros, Asian elephants, swamp deer, and wild buffalo. The region's annual floods necessitated CWRC's establishment to rescue and rehabilitate animals traumatized by floods and road accidents.
The Mobile Veterinary Service (MVS) units, known as 'Vets on Wheels,' are fully equipped, specialized vehicles staffed by wildlife veterinarians and attendants. The MVS units deployed in Kaziranga work in a well-defined nexus with CWRC. These units provide round-the-clock emergency veterinary support for distressed or displaced wild animals, even in remote locations. In addition to providing on-site care, MVS units transport injured animals that cannot be treated in the field to rescue centers for further treatment.
During this year’s annual floods in Kaziranga, a number of animals were rescued. Today, we are sharing updates on two of the rescue operations where orphaned rhino calves were brought to the center for long-term rehabilitation. We eagerly await the day these beautiful rhino babies grow into healthy adults and reclaim their place in the wild. Orphaned rhino calves rescued and rehabilitated by WTI have successfully established their own legacies in the wild. For instance, 'Ganga,' a female rhino calf rehabilitated by us, is now a mother of four calves born in the wild and a grandmother, as her second calf birthed her own baby. But the story of Ganga is for another day.
None of this would be possible without your unwavering support. Your generosity and commitment enable us to provide the care, resources, and expertise needed to rescue and rehabilitate these animals. Together, we are giving them a second chance at life and ensuring that their stories of survival and resilience continue to inspire future generations. Thank you for standing with us and for being a vital part of this journey to protect and preserve our precious wildlife.
A MUST WATCH - Rhino calves' rescues
By Monica Verma | Officer in Charge
By Monica Verma | Project Leader
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
