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2003 Synopsis of Activities

WILDLIFE PROTECTION & HABITAT CONSERVATION

IPAN's constant presence in-field treating animals, and network of in-field informants resulted in the successful apprehension by the state of Tamil Nadu Forest Dept. in several cases of illegal land encroachment, including construction, cultivation, grazing of livestock, cutting of trees, collection of forest produce and poaching/killing of wildlife, including endangered species such as the elephant, panther or leopard, and guar or Indian bison. We have assisted the state Forest Dept. on several occasions with our full-time veterinarian performing autopsies on these animals and other wild species in order to determine the cause of death. For elephants, the major causes of death continue to be gun-shot wounds, electrocution, poisoning, wire snares on legs that become seriously infected, and fatal injuries to the mouth caused by home-made bombs placed in jack fruits.

When mother elephants are killed, adequate care of orphaned infants is not available, and although IPAN has assisted the authorities on several occasions, care will never be adequate for these infants or for other orphaned and injured wildlife until a fully operational, well staffed and managed Wildlife Orphanage and Rehabilitation Centre is established to serve this region-- that the U.N. has designated as the Nilgiri Global Biosphere Reserve, (one of only 400 world-wide, recognized for its unique biological and cultural diversity).

IPAN continues to monitor wildlife research and conservation activities, and agricultural development schemes in the area, in part because of the lack of oversight and accountability, and because of already documented problems, such as the accidental killing of a nursing mother elephant during chemical capture to have a radio collar fitted to her neck by Indian Institute of Science researchers, and the death of another adult elephant in a mud-hole caused by silting in the river following the construction of a small dam by the Forest Dept. to hold water for crop irrigation.

IPAN also provided transportation and field supplies for Govt. anti-poaching teams that were stranded in the forest without food, flashlights, rain-gear and other basic equipment that should have been provided to them since they were being funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the State Forest Dept.. In spite of death threats for being involved in these and other activities and exposes, IPAN broke a ring of teak wood poachers that included one senior Forest Dept employee who was fired after IPAN revealed to the press that our informant, a low ranking Forest Dept employee, had been falsely arrested after being beaten up, had teak wood planted on his property, and IPAN bailed him out of jail and got him medical attention.

IPAN provides the only veterinary service to perform autopsies on livestock killed by tigers, leopards and wild dogs (dholes) so that the owners can get the necessary certification in order to secure Govt. compensation for the loss. This service essentially stops farmers from retaliating against these increasingly rare and highly endangered predators.

Our continuing contribution to wildlife conservation in the region includes population reduction of domestic animals, ---dogs through spay/neuter, cattle through neutering scrub bulls and providing hybrid bulls whose offspring are better milk producers, so that the farmers will shift from keeping many cattle simply for manure production (for sale as fertilizer) to keeping a few cows for more lucrative dairy business. Many diseases like rabies, distemper, foot and mouth disease and hemorrhagic septicemia are spread by domestic animals to the wildlife in the surrounding preserve, and IPAN is constantly monitoring the health status of the domestic animal population, vaccinating same, and alerting the authorities when an outbreak has occurred, and facilitating subsequent containment after notification.

ANIMAL WELFARE AND HEALTH

IPAN continues to press for proper veterinary treatment protocols and improvements in the handling, training and care of captive elephants and other wildlife in the region. After several years of indifference, harassment and threats of retribution from various sectors, we have been successful in engaging the police in enforcing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and in winning several (costly and very time-consuming) court cases, especially cases of cruel handling and transportation (cattle, water buffalo and ponies). Many such animals are sheltered at IPAN s Hill View Farm Animal Refuge under court order when cases are pending, and after cases have been judged in our favor, and there is nowhere for the animals to go. Of the 400 animals at the Refuge, cared for by our team of 15 dedicated local staff under the direction of Deputy Director Nigel Otter, (who also heads all field investigations), several are the ponies and mules being given permanent sanctuary at the behest of the Animal Welfare Board of India after successful court battles to secure their custody and freedom from cruelty and suffering. The resident herd of ninety donkeys (all males are neutered) was rescued from a defunct animal shelter and donkey rest home , where they were never cared for, and were being bred and the offspring sold into hard labor.

There is no "average day" at IPAN s headquarters at Hill View Farm, because there is always the unexpected emergency---an outbreak of rabies in a village in the heart of the wildlife preserve; a valued cow in a remote settlement needing a Caesarian operation to save her life and that of her unborn calf; an orphaned monkey that has been brought in suffering from burns from exposed electrical wires, or a dog who has been shot, hit by a vehicle or attacked by a wild boar---but on average we treat some 10-15 cases every day. Some are brought to the Refuge, where owners will sometimes stay overnight with their goat, dog or calf: Other cases are in-field, often combined with routine vaccination-visits and periodic dog -spay/neuter surgery (under general anesthesia) to villages and tribal settlements, where we also advise livestock keepers on good husbandry practices, proper nutrition, disease prevention and parasite control. In providing these services, and a 24-hour emergency service with our two jeep-ambulances, (that are wearing out), we have earned the trust and support of the local community that has become our eyes and ears for what is going on in the jungle. This network of informants enables us to investigate, document and report illegal activities that are harming wildlife and habitat, and which the local people would not report either to the press or to the authorities, for fear of retribution, or because, as was the status quo before IPAN came to the Nilgiris, their voiced concerns would be ignored.

IPAN has thus become a voice for the indigenous people who care deeply for wildlife conservation and habitat protection, and who possess much knowledge about the bioregion, its history, the medicinal and other uses of forest plants, the sustainable use of natural resources, and especially the decline in the numbers of elephants and other endangered species, and the many conservation and development schemes in the past that have without exception caused more harm than good.

In summary IPAN continues to put into practice the holistic principle of Health Care in the Nilgiris, which means Earth Care + Animal Care + People Care. The protection and conservation of wildlife and habitat (Earth Care) is largely dependent on providing health care and welfare for a sustainable domestic animal population (Animal Care) which in turn helps the people (People Care) who are economically dependent on their livestock, and who can suffer from diseases contracted from unhealthy domestic animals, just like the wildlife that IPAN continues to vigorously protect. The voice for the animals, the voice for the people, and the voice for Nature is one and the same. As the one voice in the Nilgiris, IPAN continues its work. Visitors are welcome.

-Michael W.Fox, D.Sc., Ph.D., B.Vet.Med., M.R.C.V.S.,
Chief Consultant/Veterinarian, India Project for Animals and Nature.