Cattle vaccination underway at Kaziranga National Park

A CORRESPONDENT

NUMALIGARH: A free livestock immunization drive is underway at various places of Kaziranga and Bokakhat under patronage of the Kaziranga National Park authority and supported by Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department of Bokakhat subdivision and various other organizations like WWF, Aaranyak, WTI (Wildlife Trust of India), the Corbett Foundation and Bhumi.

The vaccination drive started on April 30 and the fringe areas of KNP were covered. Cattle of Dhobaati village under Agoratoli range, Bhakte Chapori and Gabharu Chapori under Bokakhat range were vaccinated. Almost 10,000 cattle have been vaccinated till day.

The coordinator of the vaccination drive, Uttam Saikia said that along with the vaccination, the team was also creating awareness on African swine fever among the villagers. He said, "A total of 10,639 cattle have been vaccinated so far. The vaccination drive is underway at various villages near Kohora and Bagori range of Kaziranga National Park. "

This cattle vaccination move is for animal welfare and is also expected to benefit the animal rearers of the area. Many diseases can be communicable to the wild animals in Kaziranga from the domestic animals that usually graze on the fringes of the national park. The vaccination programme has also brought the community closer to the cause of conservation – cattle owners now understand that diseases are communicable from the wildlife in Kaziranga to the livestock that grazes on the fringes and vice versa.

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