A mass vaccination campaign has been launched in the buffer zones around Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Madhya Pradesh to protect the wildlife from the potential spread of the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV). The virus was detected in stray dogs in the area, leading to concerns about the health of the wild animals within the reserve.
Details of the Vaccination Initiative
- The vaccination drive began on Friday, initiated due to the detection of CDV in stray dogs within and around the PTR.
- Over the next three and a half months, approximately 1,150 stray dogs in 36 forested villages in the PTR’s buffer zone will be vaccinated in two phases.
- The initiative aims to prevent the transmission of the virus to wildlife, particularly tigers and leopards, which are vulnerable to CDV.
What is Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)?
- CDV is a highly contagious viral disease that can affect a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems.
- The disease is often fatal and poses a significant threat to both domestic and wild animals, including the big cats in the PTR.
Past Impact of CDV
- CDV has had a deadly impact in the PTR before. In 2015, a tiger and two leopards succumbed to the virus within the reserve.
Reason for Action
- According to Anjana Suchita Tirkey, the field director of PTR, the detection of the virus in local stray dogs prompted immediate action. The goal is to ensure the protection of the wild animals in the reserve by preventing further outbreaks.
Wildlife at Risk
- The PTR currently hosts 62 tigers and over 500 leopards. The reserve is an important habitat for tigers, especially notable for successfully reintroducing tigers after a population decline due to poaching in 2009.
Reintroduction of Tigers to PTR
- The Panna Tiger Project began in 2009 with the relocation of three tigers from other national parks in Madhya Pradesh: two tigresses from Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks, and one male tiger from Pench National Park.
- Over the following six years, additional tigers were relocated to PTR, helping the tiger population grow from zero in 2009 to 62 today.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
1. What is the main objective of the mass vaccination campaign in the Panna Tiger Reserve? a) To increase the tiger population
b) To prevent the spread of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
c) To protect the reserve from poaching
d) To reintroduce more tigers
Answer: b) To prevent the spread of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
2. How many stray dogs will be vaccinated in the buffer zone of Panna Tiger Reserve? a) 500 stray dogs
b) 1,150 stray dogs
c) 2,000 stray dogs
d) 300 stray dogs
Answer: b) 1,150 stray dogs
3. In which year did the CDV virus cause the deaths of a tiger and two leopards in Panna Tiger Reserve? a) 2010
b) 2015
c) 2020
d) 2009
Answer: b) 2015
4. How many tigers are currently living in the Panna Tiger Reserve? a) 100
b) 62
c) 50
d) 75
Answer: b) 62
5. What prompted the vaccination drive in Panna Tiger Reserve? a) Increased tiger population
b) Detection of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) in stray dogs
c) A poaching threat
d) Excessive rain in the area
Answer: b) Detection of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) in stray dogs