Buxa Tiger Reserve has intensified vaccination and deworming of free-ranging dogs in villages along its forest boundary, covering 444 animals as preparations continue for the proposed reintroduction of tigers in the landscape. The campaign is intended to reduce the risk of infectious diseases passing from unvaccinated or free-ranging dogs to wild animals.
A 12-member team from the Society for Protecting Ophiofauna and Animal Rights conducted the drive over the weekend in Jayanti, 28 Mile, 29 Mile and Santalabari, villages adjoining the reserve. The team vaccinated and dewormed 247 dogs during the first part of the campaign, while another 197 dogs received DHPPiL vaccines on Sunday.
The programme is being carried out by the Buxa Tiger Reserve and the West Bengal forest department in collaboration with SPOAR. Mission Rabies and Worldwide Veterinary Services are providing technical and operational support, according to the report.
The organisations involved said disease prevention is an important part of wildlife health management in forest-fringe areas. Free-ranging dogs living in and around the reserve can come into contact with wild animals, creating a potential route for infectious diseases to spread across the wildlife–domestic animal interface. The campaign therefore focuses on improving vaccination coverage among dogs in communities located close to the forest.
The anti-rabies vaccination and deworming work is being conducted alongside the DHPPiL vaccination programme. The campaign was scheduled to continue on Monday, with more free-ranging dogs expected to be covered in the adjoining villages.
The intervention comes as authorities prepare for the proposed return of tigers to Buxa, where wildlife management involves not only the reserve’s forest habitat but also the settlements and domestic animals at its edges. The report did not specify a date for the proposed reintroduction or provide details of the number of tigers planned for release.
A separate organisation, the Saving Tiger Society, said it had vaccinated 100 stray dogs during the first phase of its drive on September 15 and 16 along the edge of the tiger reserve. The continuing vaccination efforts are aimed at lowering potential disease risks before further steps are taken on the proposed tiger reintroduction.
