Salem/Tamil Nadu: A specially designed wildlife ambulance to rescue elephants and wild animals has been pressed into service by the forest department at the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR).
The ambulance with hydraulic lifting facility can be used to rescue animals in conflict. “Rescuing elephants in trouble using lorries is a challenging task as ramps had to be set up in jungles for the pachyderms to get into vehicle.
Under such circumstances, the newly-designed vehicle comes in as great relief as elephants can easily be loaded and unloaded without much effort,” said K. Ashokan, forest veterinary officer, STR.
He also said at times, the forest department personnel, who are involved in monitoring wildlife, could stay inside the ambulance and need not retreat from jungles after dark. “It is spacious enough to accommodate up to 20 persons,” Mr Ashokan said. In the last one year, 10 elephants, which were trapped in slush, were rescued at the STR.
