New Delhi, Delhi, 17th of December, 2024 : The Central Zoo Authority, under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has taken up the development of the ‘National Wildlife Health Policy in consultative workshop held today in Indira Prayavaran Bhawan, New Delhi.
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Healthy wildlife populations are essential for maintaining biodiversity, as well as socio-economic well-being. Wildlife faces various health threats, such as infectious diseases, habitat loss, climate disasters, illicit activities and others. In this regard, it is important to have a long-term vision for a science-based wildlife health management considering ecological, human, and animal health as parts of a shared and interconnected environment.
The proposed ‘National Wildlife Health Policy’ aims to establish a comprehensive framework for safeguarding wildlife populations integrating with public health and the domestic animal health management domains. It recognizes the importance of health of captive and free ranging wild animals that directly impact balanced ecosystems, and biodiversity. The policy will develop structured mechanisms elucidating pathways for surveillance, Research and Development, data architecture, capacity development, legal frameworks, and resource allocation needed to achieve the expected outcomes.
The policy formulation has brought together experts from all domains of the wildlife sectors such as government departments, NGOs, and academic institutes. The policy development process is supported by GISE Hub, IIT Bombay and Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
The inaugural session of the consultative workshop was graced by Shri Jitendra Kumar, Director General of Forests and Special Secretary (DGF&SS),MoEF&CC, Shri. Sushil Kumar Awasthi, Additional Director General (Wildlife), MoEF&CC, Shri. Anjan Kumar Mohanty, Additional Director General (Forest Conservation), MoEF&CC, Dr. Gobind Sagar Bharadwaj, Additional Director General (Project Tiger and Elephant) & Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Dr. Sanjay Kumar Shukla, Member Secretary, Central Zoo Authority, MoEF&CC.
Representatives who attended the consultation workshop included Government ministries/ departments, NGOs, academic institutions, zoological parks, veterinary universities and state forest departments participated in the consultative workshop.
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