Tamil Nadu’s first wildlife rescue, treatment and rehabilitation centre getting ready in Sirumugai forest range near Coimbatore

Tamil Nadu's first wildlife rescue center nears completion in Coimbatore Forest Division, expected to be finished by April.

The works for establishing Tamil Nadu’s first rescue, treatment and rehabilitation centre (RTRC) for wildlife is nearing completion at Pethikuttai reserve forests in Sirumugai forest range of the Coimbatore Forest Division.

Forest Department officials said that more than 80% of the works were over and the entire project was expected to be completed by March-end or April.

Srinivas R. Reddy, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of the Forest Force, inspected the site on the banks of the water storage area of the Bhavanisagar reservoir on January 24. He reviewed the progress of the work in the presence of Conservator of Forests D. Venkatesh and District Forest Officer N. Jayaraj.

According to officials, works are being undertaken on an area of 21 acres inside the reserve forest in the initial stage out of the 53 hectares earmarked for the project, for which the State government had allotted ₹19.5 crore.

The RTRC coming up at Pethikuttai is one of the three such facilities announced by the State government in September 2021. The other two locations are in Tiruchi and Tirunelveli districts.

Once completed, the facility will be a boon for the Forest Department for the rescue and treatment of injured, orphaned and ailing wild animals. The RTR will have four zones, namely human zone, quarantine zone, lifetime care zone and rehabilitation zone.