Panaji: Goa is in the process of establishing its first dedicated transit treatment centre for wild animals, alongside a 24X7 animal ambulance and emergency response system.This has been modeled on facilities currently operated in Maharashtra.The initiative, still in its planning and early implementation phase, aims to improve the rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation of injured and displaced wildlife across the state.“The project was conceptualised after studying veterinary emergency systems run in Maharashtra, particularly by the NGO Res-Q Wildlife Trust, which operates large-scale, corporate-funded veterinary hospitals in Pune and Nashik,” said principal chief conservator of forests Kamal Datta.The Goa forest department visited these facilities to evaluate their operational structure, staffing model, and emergency response capabilities to see how RESQ operates the rescue system that allows rapid stabilisation and treatment of injured animals.Under the proposed arrangement, Goa will provide infrastructure, while RESQ is expected to supply operational expertise, trained personnel, and field response systems.The staffing and recurring operational costs, including salaries and maintenance, are expected to be managed through the NGO.A permanent facility is planned at Bethoda which has been selected for its central location to enable faster response across the state. “The facility is expected to function as both a hospital and a transit holding facility for wildlife,” Datta told TOI.The proposed facilities include a veterinary hospital with surgical facilities, an operation theatre, diagnostic laboratories (including testing for viral and bacterial infections), animal observation and quarantine cages and emergency stabilisation units.It is expected to reduce delays currently caused by sending samples to external laboratories and distant veterinary institutes in other states.While the Bethoda centre is under development, a temporary transit treatment facility has been set up in a refurbished govt building in Panaji.“The renovated facility is expected to begin operations once equipment and staff deployment is completed. It will function as an interim wildlife emergency hub. The Bethoda centre is expected to take approximately two years to construct and get operational. Once completed, operations are intended to be shifted from the temporary facility in Panaji,” Datta said.As part of this project, the forest department is also set to introduce Goa’s first dedicated wildlife ambulance service. The ambulances are expected to provide on-site first aid to injured wildlife, stabilise animals during transport, operate 24X7 emergency response and support both field rescue and rehabilitation transfers.“Training programmes are also planned for veterinary staff, forest personnel, and field responders to perform paramedic-style emergency care for animals at the site of injury,” Datta said.“Our goal is to reduce mortality among injured wildlife by ensuring immediate medical intervention during rescue operations. Currently, many animals die during transit due to the absence of on-site stabilisation facilities. The proposed system is expected to address this gap by enabling treatment at the location of rescue itself,” he said.
