Maharashtra Launches Dog Vaccination Drive to Protect Tiger Reserves from Canine Distemper Virus Maharashtra’s chief wildlife warden, M Srinivasa Reddy, has directed field directors of all tiger reserves across the state to initiate mass vaccination campaigns for domestic and stray dogs in villages surrounding protected areas. The directive follows an advisory from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which highlighted the threat posed by canine distemper virus (CDV) to wild carnivores. The NTCA’s warning was prompted by a recent incident in Madhya Pradesh, where a tigress and her four sub-adult cubs died within nine days at Kanha Tiger Reserve, confirmed to be linked to CDV. The virus, primarily spread through domestic and feral dogs, does not always kill tigers directly but weakens their immune systems, making them vulnerable to fatal secondary infections, especially among cubs and young animals. Acting on the NTCA’s advisory, Reddy issued a statewide directive on May 5, ordering tiger reserve authorities to establish vaccination buffers around reserves, buffer zones, fringe settlements, and tourism corridors. Each reserve is required to develop village-specific vaccination plans, including estimated dog populations, vaccination schedules, assigned veterinary officers, and follow-up protocols. Reserve officials have been instructed to collaborate with the Animal Husbandry Department, local gram panchayats, and zilla parishads to ensure vaccination and health monitoring of dogs. Measures to restrict the movement of domestic and stray dogs into tiger reserves, protection camps, and tourism routes are also being enforced.#maharashtra #national_tiger_conservation_authority #m_srinivasa_reddy #kanha_tiger_reserve #canine_distemper_virus
