Kerala, 10 th January 2026: The Kerala Forest Department, in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), and with support from Oracle, organised a three-day training workshop on Marine Megafauna Stranding Response for veterinarians across three districts of Kerala from January 6 to January 8, 2026. These workshops were conducted as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional capacity for responding to marine megafauna stranding incidents along the Kerala coastline.

The workshops were attended by over 100 participants, including veterinarians from the Animal Husbandry Department and officials from the Kerala Forest Department.

Alappuzha District–6 January 2026 

The first workshop was held at the Forest Office complex, Social Forestry, Kommady, Alappuzha, with 40 participants in attendance. The programme commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Vimal Lakshmanan, WTI, followed by a presidential address by Dr. Arunodaya P.V., District Animal Husbandry Officer, Alappuzha. The workshop was inaugurated by Ms. Sumi Joseph, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Social Forestry, Alappuzha.

Mr. Sajan John, Co-Principal Investigator, Marine Projects, WTI, explained the need for the training and emphasised the importance of capacity building in marine megafauna stranding response. Mr. T.S. Xavier, Range Forest Officer, Social Forestry, Alappuzha, delivered the vote of thanks.

Training workshop conducted in Forest Office complex, Social Forestry, Alappuzha | Photo (c) Team WTI

Kollam District– 7 January 2026  

The second workshop was conducted at the Press Club in Kollam and was attended by 30 participants. The session began with a welcome address followed by the presidential address by Dr. D. Shine Kumar, District Animal Husbandry Officer, Kollam, and was inaugurated by Mr. Koshy John, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Social Forestry Division, Kollam. Mr. Sajan John highlighted the importance of preparedness, rapid response, and inter-departmental coordination during marine megafauna stranding events.

Dr Neha Shah conducting a session on marine megafauna stranding response at Kollam | Photo (c) Team WTI

Thiruvananthapuram–8 January 2026 

The last workshop was held at the Social Forestry Complex, Maruthamkuzhi, Thiruvananthapuram, and attended by 33 participants. Mr. Sajan John, WTI opened the session with a welcome address, followed by the presidential address, which was delivered by Dr. Rema S., District Animal Husbandry Officer, Thiruvananthapuram. The workshop was inaugurated by Dr. Padma Mohanty, IFS, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF), Social Forestry Division, Thiruvananthapuram. Mr. Saju S. Nair, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Social Forestry, Thiruvananthapuram, delivered a vote of thanks.

The training sessions were conducted by Dr. Neha Shah, B.V.Sc., CERT AQV (U.S.A.), who delivered comprehensive and highly informative lectures on various aspects of marine mega fauna stranding and post-mortem investigations.

The sessions began with an introduction to marine animal stranding, explaining its definition and the types of strandings observed in marine species. Participants were guided through the important considerations during stranding events, including safety measures, ethical handling, documentation, and coordination among responding agencies. The sessions highlighted the need for a systematic and scientific approach during such incidents. Detailed discussions were held on the roles and responsibilities of veterinarians and forest officials during stranding incidents. The importance of interdepartmental coordination, decision-making, and adherence to standard operating procedures was strongly emphasised.

Demonstration of a stranding procedure carried out at Trivandrum | Photo (c) Team WTI

The training included an in-depth overview of necropsy procedures, covering established protocols and best practices. Participants were familiarised with the step-by-step process of conducting necropsies in stranded marine megafauna to ensure accurate findings and data collection. Special attention was given to the analysis of different organs during necropsy, with explanations on identifying pathological changes and correlating findings with possible causes of death.

The sessions also covered carcass condition codes, explaining their classification and significance in determining the quality of samples and the interpretation of necropsy results. Furthermore, the training addressed diseases affecting marine megafauna, discussing common infectious and non-infectious diseases and their impact on marine ecosystems. A special focus was placed on sea turtles, differentiating turtles and tortoises, covering the major causes of stranding, species-specific considerations, and appropriate management and response strategies.

The sessions witnessed active participation from both veterinarians and forest officials. Veterinarians shared their field experiences during stranding events and discussed how the previous year’s training had helped them effectively handle real-life stranding situations. Participants highlighted an increase in confidence, particularly in performing necropsies and following scientific protocols.

 Practical Demonstration

Towards the end of the training, a hands-on demonstration was conducted on the scientific and technical procedures involved in stranding response. An inflatable dolphin model and supporting structure were used to demonstrate proper handling techniques. Subsequently, the procedures were enacted by the participants, allowing them to gain practical experience and reinforce their learning.

These training workshops successfully strengthened the capacity of veterinarians and forest officials to respond effectively to marine megafauna stranding incidents. The initiative marks a significant step towards establishing a coordinated and scientifically informed stranding response mechanism along the Kerala coast.