Karnataka tiger reserve to have mobile veterinary service

The Karnataka chapter of Wildlife Trust of India on Tuesday rolled out a mobile veterinary service unit for the Bandipur tiger reserve in the state.

The reserve is located in Chamarajanagar district, about 220 km from here.

"The mobile unit will facilitate rescue of wild animals in the reserve and enable the trust to respond to emergencies in the landscape," Bandipur forests conservator and director H.C. Kantharaju said on the occasion.

Mobile service provider Aircel is partnering with the state forest department in operating the unit, touted to be the first of its kind in the country.

"The mobile unit will have a trained veterinarian and a caretaker who will respond at any time for any emergency reported from the region," Kantharaju said.

The unit will be based at Melkhamanahalli special tiger protection force camp and be operational 24x7 with a hotline number for village communities to call in an emergency.