It was a chilly December morning. The crisp winter air of Assam wrapped around me as I sat on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra River. The scene was serene, yet an undercurrent of anticipation hummed in the air. I had joined a team of scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India, embarking on a groundbreaking mission: the first-ever attempt to satellite tag the elusive Ganges River dolphin. A group of local fishermen, our trusted allies in this endeavour, prepared to skilfully deploy capture nets, their practised hands moving with care and precision. In the hush of that waiting moment, my thoughts drifted like the river's current, carrying echoes of my decade-long journey as a veterinarian working alongside India's wildlife—a journey woven with adventure, challenges, triumphs, and invaluable life lessons.
Over the years, I have come to realise that the work of a wildlife veterinarian is far more than just treating animals; it is about being a bridge between science and survival. It is a role that demands resilience, adaptability, and an unshakable commitment. While every day and every operation as a wildlife vet is an adventure and a lesson in itself, some moments etch themselves into memory, standing out as truly unforgettable. Here, I share a few of those episodes from my journey so far.
Behind the Stripes
Nine months into my role as a Veterinary Officer at Bannerghatta Biological Park, I had settled into the routine of caring for wild animals in a managed setting. My days were spent tending to creatures both great and small, while my evenings were often filled with the quiet hum of lessons from Dr. B.C. Chittiappa, the then Assistant Director of Veterinary Services at Bannerghatta. A tough and enigmatic figure, he commanded respect with his sharp instincts and unmatched skills in the delicate art of wildlife capture and immobilisation. Under his seasoned gaze and strict mentorship, I was learning more than just wildlife medicine; I was learning the pulse of the jungle itself.
Then came a call that would test everything I had absorbed.
It was mid-November 2013 when the Karnataka Forest Department issued an urgent request to my zoo. A tiger in Bandipur Tiger Reserve had been habitually preying on cattle and had later claimed three human lives over the past few weeks, sending ripples of fear and grief through the surrounding villages. The tiger had to be captured immediately.
Dr. Chittiappa, never one to waste a moment, saw this as my trial by fire. "Go," he said, "See the reality of wildlife conflict for yourself."
When I arrived in Bandipur, the air was thick with tension. The raw sorrow in the villagers' eyes was a reminder that, for them, this was not just a confrontation; it was a battle for survival. Standing amidst their anger and loss, I understood the weight of our mission. This was not merely about capturing a tiger; it was about restoring balance where the lines between man and beast had blurred.
The operation began, and I found myself working alongside Dr. D.N. Nagaraju, a soft-spoken yet highly skilled wildlife veterinarian from Bandipur. For nearly a month, we tracked the elusive tiger without success.
Then, tragedy struck again.
On December 3, 2013, the tiger claimed a fourth victim in Chikkabargi village. The fury that followed was unrelenting. Protesters set fire to forest department vehicles and offices, demanding retribution. The government intervened, and the directive was clear—'shoot the tiger on sight.' The next day, forest rangers and Karnataka State Reserve Police officers had the task of tracking down the tiger. Their search ended in a hail of bullets; more than seventy rounds were fired at the tiger as he guarded his latest human victim's body. But fate had other plans. When the smoke cleared, he was gone. Not a single bullet had found its mark.
At dawn on December 5, 2013, Dr. Nagaraju and I returned to the site, waiting for the rest of the team. The plan was the same as the day before: the KSRP team would track the tiger and shoot it. While we waited for the team, Kanthi, a trained Kumki elephant, lifted her trunk, sniffing the wind. Her mahout, Parvez, followed her lead. There, just 300 meters away, sat the tiger! "The tiger is here!" Parvez shouted.
Dr. Nagaraju turned to me and said, "Sanath, do you want to try darting him? The police team is not here yet. This might be our only chance." With my heart pounding, I climbed onto Kanthi and moved towards the predator. The tiger didn’t move. He simply watched as we closed the distance. I took a deep breath and darted him.
Fifteen minutes later, he lay anaesthetised! We approached and saw the truth: he was old, his canines worn, and his jaw infected with porcupine quills. He had turned to humans not out of choice, but desperation. Despite the challenges, we managed to move him away quickly and brought him to Mysore Zoo. Named Shiva, he lived out his days contributing to ex-situ conservation and even sired cubs, leaving behind a legacy.
Close Call with a Gentle Giant in Coffee Land
During my four-year stint as a Project Scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India, I had the privilege of working closely with elephants, studying ways to mitigate human-elephant conflict..
In 2019, amid Karnataka's coffee-agroforestry landscapes, we set out to unravel the secrets of elephants. Our mission was clear: to understand their ecology, decode their behaviour, and, with the help of radio-collars, explore an early warning system to foster peaceful coexistence. This ambitious endeavour was made possible through collaboration with the Karnataka Forest Department (KFD), built on the legacy of visionary vets Dr. B. C. Chittiappa and Dr. S. M. Khadri. The KFD's approach to capturing elephants is nothing short of an action movie! By blending traditional wisdom from mahouts with cutting-edge science and field guidance from dedicated officials, they have turned elephant capture into an art form. At the core of their strategy are Kumkis—trained elephants who protect their handlers and guide wild elephants during captures with calm precision.
After successfully deploying a few radio-collars in Kodagu in 2021, we moved to Hassan district, where human-elephant conflict is frequent. The responsibility for veterinary interventions during capture operations fell on Dr. Muji-Ur-Rehman, a wildlife veterinarian from Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, and me. Our goal was to capture and radio-collar three female elephants. The operation was led by Dr. Basavaraj K. N., an IFS officer and veterinary graduate, supported by Kumkis Abhimanyu and Krishna, their mahouts Vasantha and Chandra, and the legendary H. H. Venkatesh. With over 100 elephant captures behind them, their experience was the operation’s backbone. Nearly 100 staff members took part, highlighting that elephant capture is a complex effort built on coordination, courage, and trust.
During one early attempt, the targeted female kept moving with her herd, making darting her from a Kumki impossible. Venkateshanna, a forest employee, suggested we proceed on foot. In the dense Umblibetta landscape, we managed to dart the matriarch. The drug slowed her, but we waited for the Kumkis to arrive for safety. Suddenly, the elephant charged. Chaos erupted. The team scattered in all directions, and all I remember is hearing Venkateshanna's voice cutting through the panic, "Follow me and run!" I didn’t look back. Later, I learned she’d been just 10–15 meters behind me and Dr. Rehman. Thanks to warning shots from forest personnel, she turned away. Kumki Abhimanyu arrived, and mahout Vasantha tactically shielded us. Had it not been for Venkateshanna's quick thinking and experience, I would not be here today. We all took a day off the next day, mulling over whether to continue. It was Dr. Basavaraj who gathered our courage and ensured we carried on. Within the next four days, we successfully collared three females and two tuskers in the landscape.
This experience reminded me of nature’s unpredictability and the need to always be prepared. Elephants may seem gentle, but they are wild beings with instincts and behaviours that can shift instantly. This incident reinforced the importance of teamwork, quick decision-making, and humility. Most importantly, it taught me humility. No matter how much we plan, nature has the final say. And in those moments of uncertainty, it is the wisdom of seasoned experts like Venkateshanna, the calm of officers like Dr. Basavaraj, and the silent solidarity of teammates that make all the difference.
Building on our success in Hassan, and with the continued support of the KFD and my veterinary colleague and dear friend Dr. Ramesh Huliya, we collared over 30 elephants by 2022. The vast elephant movement data generated from this effort, one of the largest datasets of its kind, provides unprecedented insights into elephant ecology in human-modified landscapes. This invaluable information is now enabling the development of data-driven, scientifically informed management strategies to better mitigate human-elephant conflicts in the landscape.
The Dolphin Story
Returning to where this story began—on 18th December 2024, we did what once felt impossible: safely captured and satellite-tagged a Gangetic dolphin. This historic achievement was made possible under the visionary guidance of Dr. Vishnupriya Kolipakam and Dr. Qamar Qureshi, supported by a passionate research team and the invaluable help of our fishermen friends. Alongside me were Dr. Debabrata Phukon from the Assam Forest Department and Dr. Lallianpuii Kawlni from WII—my vet comrades whose expertise made this effort possible.
The satellite tag placed on the dolphin is more than just a device; it’s a beacon of hope. It will unlock invaluable insights into the dolphin's movements, behaviour, and habitat use, painting a vivid picture of their hidden lives. For us veterinarians, this is more than science; it is akin to giving a voice to these silent creatures, allowing them to tell their story in ways they never could before.
As the dolphin was safely released back into the Brahmaputra, we stood in quiet triumph, knowing that this was not just a job well done, but a step forward in our quest to understand and protect the fragile wonders of our natural world.
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As April marks World Veterinary Day, this article is my humble attempt to shine a light on the life of a wildlife veterinarian in India. Above all, I would like to use this opportunity to celebrate and honour my selfless and dedicated wildlife veterinary colleagues across the country. Their expertise, resilience, and unwavering commitment form the foundation of wildlife conservation. They are the unseen protectors, working tirelessly to ensure the health, survival, and well-being of the magnificent creatures that call India home.
