Chennai, 24th January 2025: The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC), and the Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary (BMAD) hosted a three-day workshop on the “Rescue and Rehabilitation of Oiled Wildlife” at AIWC, Chennai from 22–24 January 2025. Mr. Rakesh Kumar Dogra, PCCF & Chief Wildlife Warden, Tamil Nadu Forest Department, inaugurated the workshop. 

The workshop was part of WTI-IFAW’s (International Fund for Animal Welfare) Emergency Relief Network (ERN) initiative and aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to prepare for and respond to oil spills, and rescue and rehabilitate wildlife affected by oil spills.

Rakesh Kumar Dogra, PCCF & CWLW, TN, FD inaugurated the workshop || Sreenanth K/WTI

Sessions included an in-depth exploration of the impacts of oil spills on wildlife, preparedness for emergency response to oil spills impacting wildlife, equipping participants with best practices on rapid assessment, wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, post-release monitoring, and contamination mitigation. These were led by a distinguished panel of experts, including Shannon Walajtys, IFAW, Neil Greenwood, IFAW, Dr. K Sridhar, AAZP, Dr. Shantanu Kalambi, Reefwatch, Dr. Josika, BMAD, Mr A. Udhayan, AIWC,  and Ms Senbagapriya, AIWC, alongside Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury, Dr. N.V.K. Ashraf, and Dr. Bindu Raghavan from WTI. 

Practical exercises focused on preparedness and response to oil spills, carcass collection, rescue and handling techniques for oiled birds, cleaning of oiled birds, and release and post-release monitoring. A special presentation on the recent Bhavnagar oil spill’s impact on wildlife will be given by WTI-IFAW’s ERN member Mr. Rushi Pathak. Participants will also visit Ennore Creek for a site visit to understand the real-world implications of oil spills.

35 participants joined the works hosted by WTI, IFAW, Tamil Nadu Forest Dept & BMAD in Chennai | Sreenanth K/WTI

This workshop is a response to the multiple oil spills and leaks at Ennore Creek from petroleum storage tanks in 2017, 2019 and 2023. The spill spread rapidly along the Kosasthalaiyar River, Ennore Creek, and into the sea, exacerbated by Cyclone Michaung-induced floods in 2023. IFAW-WTI’s ERN provided technical expertise for the rehabilitation and veterinary care of affected birds such as spot-billed pelicans in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and BMAD.

Participants got hands-on experience in handling birds drenched in oil | Sreenanth K/WTI

Mr. Rakesh Kumar Dogra, PCCF & CWLW, Tamil Nadu Forest Department emphasised the significance of workshops in enabling swift and effective responses to wildlife emergencies, particularly in light of recent oil spills near Chennai. He acknowledged the participation of nearly all coastal states and stressed the importance of sharing learnings and experiences. Highlighting the value of partnerships with stakeholders, he commended the efforts of WTI and the Forest Department in initiatives such as rescue activities, HAWK, and Gajutsav, to support wildlife conservation in Tamil Nadu.

Dr. Bindu Raghavan, Head of Wild Rescue at WTI, underscored the need for selecting individuals with relevant expertise in wildlife and environmental management in coastal regions. She highlighted that nominating candidates with experience in environments near ports or shipyards is essential to ensure training effectively contributes to conserving coastal ecosystems and addressing the challenges faced in these areas.

Mr. A. Udhayan, Director, AIWC, highlighted the importance of equipping both staff and volunteers with the specialised skills required to effectively tackle these challenges. I am certain that the knowledge gained will greatly benefit conservation efforts.