The Society for Wildlife Conservation, Education and Research (Wild-CER) has entered into a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) to establish a dedicated One Health Centre within the reserve. This initiative represents a pioneering step in advancing the One Health approach, which emphasizes the vital link between human health, animal health, and ecosystem health.
Why One Health Matters
The One Health concept recognizes that the well-being of people, wildlife, and domestic animals is deeply interconnected. In landscapes like NNTR, where communities live alongside rich biodiversity, the risks of zoonotic diseases, livestock infections, and ecosystem imbalances are significant. By integrating veterinary science, public health, and conservation, the One Health Centre will serve as a hub for disease prevention, education, and collaborative action.
Objectives of the MoU
Through this partnership, Wild-CER and NNTR aim to:
- Strengthen Wildlife Disease Surveillance: Systematically monitor and document diseases affecting wild animals, livestock, and communities in and around the reserve.
- Implement Mass Vaccination Programs: Protect domestic animals in buffer zones, reducing the risk of disease spillover to wildlife populations.
- Promote Community Awareness: Conduct workshops, training sessions, and outreach programs for forest staff, local communities, and stakeholders to build knowledge and resilience.
- Enhance Ecosystem Health: Support conservation strategies that reduce human-wildlife conflict and foster sustainable coexistence.
- Rescue, rehabilitation and translocation of wild animals: Providing veterinary expertise to the Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve, Mahrashtra Forest Department