Maharashtra's Forests Lack Vets Amid Rising Wildlife Crisis

Maharashtra's forest department faces a significant challenge with a severe shortage of full-time veterinary officers, despite plans to expand wildlife rescue and transit treatment centers. This critical gap necessitates a heavy reliance on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for essential veterinary services at these facilities.

As human-wildlife conflict escalates and initiatives like leopard sterilization are considered, the department's dependence on external veterinary support is becoming increasingly untenable. Wildlife reserves and national parks across the state are operating without dedicated veterinarians, a persistent issue flagged in State Board for Wildlife meetings.

In response to rising wildlife injuries and conflict situations, the forest department initiated a plan to establish new transit treatment centers (TTCs) across 11 forest circles. However, most of these centers, like the one in Pune managed by RESQ Charitable Trust, depend on their NGO partners for veterinary expertise, highlighting the need for immediate on-ground treatment.

Experts emphasize the crucial role of veterinarians in wildlife management, from treating injured animals to assisting in post-mortems and monitoring zoonotic diseases. The absence of specialized wildlife veterinarians and structured posts has delayed appointments for years.

While the department advertised eight veterinary officer positions in December 2025, with a proposed separate cadre, this recruitment is considered limited but a positive start. Frontline staff continue to rely on NGO partners, underscoring the urgent need to institutionalize veterinary expertise within Maharashtra's forest administration.