Odisha Plan To Have World Class Veterinary Hospital For Wildlife

Bhubaneswar: A world class veterinary hospital for the wildlife is in the offing in the State.

At the state-level meeting on “Elephant protection and conservation in Odisha”, here on Saturday, Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy directed to build the veterinary hospital in Chandka forest area. Additional Chief Secretary, Forest & Environment Dr Mona Sharma said the hospital could be developed as a center of excellence with advanced equipment, research and development activities.

It was also decided at the meeting to build three under-passes on NH-55 in Dhenkanal, Redhakhol and Athmallik forest divisions this year to save the elephants from facing vehicular accidents. The Chief Secretary directed the DFOs and DISCOMs to minimise the electrocution death of the elephants.

The initiatives of the state government towards creating more job opportunities in forest related activities, particularly in post-COVID19 scenario, were also discussed at the meeting.

Principal Chief Conservator Of Forests CCF (Wildlife) Harisankar Upadhaya quoted a study to say that 1700-1800 elephants can be managed in large forest areas of Odisha. The elephant population in Odisha has grown from 1827 in 1999 to 1976 in 2017, he added.