To preserve and protect wildlife in the state of Tamil Nadu, Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Dr Shekhar Kumar Niraj, IFS, is working towards improving facilities for rescue and rehabilitation of the wild animals and conservation of the state animal, Nilgiri Tahr, which has been listed in the list of endangered animals.
During a conversation with Indian Masterminds, the 1989-batch Indian Forest Service officer highlighted the ongoing efforts for the conservation of Nilgiri Tahr and also talked about his ambitious wildlife rehabilitation centre project.
CONSERVATION OF NILGIRI TAHR
Dr. Niraj informed Indian Masterminds that concerted efforts are on for the conservation of Nilgiri Tahr, the state animal of Tamil Nadu. The species has been listed in endangered animals list and is already disappearing from many pockets of the state. The officer and his team are identifying all these pockets and trying to get detail information about the animal’s habitats and the linkages.
Since many cases of Tahr getting affected with tumours are being reported, they are closely working with the World Wildlife Fund to address the issue and get medical support.
Besides this, his team is also focusing on regular estimation and analysis of Nilgiri Tahr’s population so that they could identify all the causes for their disappearance and keep a close eye on their growth.
REHABILIATTION CENTRE FOR WILD ANIMALS
Dr Niraj also spoke about the plan to set up a rescue and rehabilitation centre for traumatized animals in the state in a strategic location like Coimbatore which will cover the entire wildlife population of the state.
“Like humans, animals also get traumatized due to accident, extreme sickness, or in poaching cases and immediate human intervention is required for their rescue and rehabilitation. The project is big and will need a lot of investment and skilled manpower. We are about to finalize the detailed project report and soon the work will start.”
He also said that since this will take time, they are also working on providing alternatives like skilled vets and mobile vehicles with necessary equipment for the treatment of animals. They are also restoring and upgrading the already existing centre in Vandalur Zoo in Chennai.
The proposed rescue and rehabilitation centre will have all the medical facilities, starting from qualified vets to pathology labs, medical equipment, x-ray facility along with inclusive space for birds, reptiles and mammals like turtles.
The centre will also ensure that the animals are released back into the wild after they recover. Mobile treatment facility is also part of this project as only animals facing extreme medical condition will be brought to the centre.
A KNOWN FACE IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
A PhD from Arizona University, USA, Dr Niraj is a well-known face in the field of wildlife conservation and protection. He has also served as the Special Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu for Environment and Forest Department, as Director of the newly set-up Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation of Government, and as Additional Principal Chief conservator of Forests for Project Tiger in Tamil Nadu.
He is known for the establishment of the Srivilliputhur-Meghamalai Tiger Reserve and India’s first ever Forest Marine Training and Research Academy.
In a career spanning more the 25 years, he led in more than 600 cases of seizures and arrests in wildlife crime, including India’s largest transnational birds smuggling case in Mumbai in 2001, leading to the seizure of more than 13000 birds and opening up of a wide nexus.
Recognising his contribution to wildlife conservation, he was awarded the Royal Bank of Scotland Foundation Earth Heroes Award in 2017.
