After death of Gir lions, NTCA asks states to take urgent steps to save tigers from lethal virus

TNN | Updated: Oct 9, 2018, 13:40 IST
PILIBHIT: The national tiger conservation authority (NTCA) has directed all chief wildlife wardens of tiger range states across the country to take urgent steps to save big cats from canine distemper virus (CDV). As many as 23 lions have died in the Gir sanctuary in less than a month. According to the forest officials, most of them succumbed to CDV and protozoan infections.

The authority has instructed the chief wildlife wardens to begin an immunization drive of dogs and cats, both feral and domestic, in their respective areas. Following this, officials at Pilibhit tiger reserve now plan to launch the immunization campaign in 100 villages situated near the reserve in the initial phase.

The NTCA advisory includes immediate reporting in case of any abnormal behaviour of wild animals, collection of tissues of dead wild animals for pathological analysis, facility of deep fridge at every tiger reserve for the storage of samples, maintenance of proper record of each collected sample and its analysis, the periodic monitoring of availability of water in tiger reserves during the pre- and post-monsoon sessions and its clinical analysis.

“The basic idea of NTCA is to create the immunization buffer in surroundings of tiger reserves with prime exposure to herd immunization. This is based on the previous studies which have revealed that the immunization of 70 to 80% population of dogs and cats through vaccination has helped in reduction of transmission of the disease,” said Adarsh Kumar, deputy director of PTR.

According to the official records of PTR, of the 16 tigers found dead in and around the reserve between 2012 and 2018, the autopsy reports of two tigers have so far revealed CDV to be the cause of death.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/after-death-of-gir-lions-ntca-asks-states-to-take-urgent-steps-to-save-tigers-from-lethal-virus/articleshow/66125837.cms