Alarmed over wildlife activists’ apprehensions that the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) might take a toll of tigers in the Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) and especially the tiger captured from the State capital and later released in PTR is at great danger of acquiring this lethal virus the reserve authorities have started vaccination for eight diseases like canine distemper and rabies in the buffer zone.
Vaccination of dogs has become a priority for PTR and about 600 stray and pet dogs in 13 villages in the buffer zone of the reserve now sport an identity collar around their necks. This is proof that they have been vaccinated for eight diseases like canine distemper and rabies.
The veterinary doctor of the PTR Dr Sanjeev Kumar Gupta while talking to The Pioneer said, “Though it is a routine exercise still we are appealing to villagers for cooperation.”
There are 150 villages in the reserve’s buffer area. A week from now, teams will fan out in the villages and trace the same dogs to administer a booster dose to neutralise chances of the canines contracting, and, more importantly, passing on the deadly diseases to the big cats.
The 600 dogs, most of them stray, were chased and netted over the last fortnight by teams of five volunteers who collected blood samples, vaccinated them and put collars on them for easy identification.
The vaccination drive, which has made some dog owners doubtful and suspicious of the motive, was triggered by the death of a tiger in August due to canine distemper virus.