Srinagar, Nov 1: Kashmir has rich wetland geography. Three of its eight notified wetlands under the Wetlands Division Kashmir are Ramsar sites. These wetlands are home to a rich diversity of birds and other animals, yet, the Department of Wildlife Protection that is mandated to protect them, has no veterinary facility to treat or assess an animal in need.
According to an RTI reply, the Wildlife Warden, Wetlands Division, Kashmir, has said that no veterinary care facility is available with the division. In the same reply, the division has reported tranquilizing or rescuing 40 animals in 2025-26 and 44 in 2026-27 in Budgam district alone. The reply has been furnished to an RTI query by M MShuja, RTI activist and Journalist. The reply did not specify where animals rescued by the division are treated. The department, has said it does not have any veterinarian on its rolls.
The division manages eight Wetland Conservation Reserves – Hokersar, Hygam, Shallabugh, Mirgund, Chatlam, Freshkhoori, Manibugh and Kranchoo. These reserves lie across Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Ganderbal and Pulwama districts.
The Asian Water Bird Census 2025 has been enclosed with the same reply. It counted 13,43,506 birds across Kashmir’s wetlands. The Eurasian Teal was the most numerous species at about 2.92 lakh, followed by the Mallard and the Northern Shoveler. Four wetlands in Kashmir – Hokersar, Shallabugh, Wular and Hygam, are home to about 96 percent of all birds counted.
Beyond birds, Kashmir’s wetlands is home to a wider range of wildlife. BirdLife International’s site factsheet for Hokersar says the common otter is common in the lake. The reserve is also known to hold the red fox and the jackal. Leopard and wild cats are also occasionally spotted moving through adjacent forested edges of these wetlands. In addition, there is a rich fish fauna that includes common carp. The division has said its conservation work has improved habitat conditions. It has consistently counted 12-13 lakh migratory water birds annually in recent years.
The reply shows the division regularly handles live and injured animals, and in Budgam district, it tranquilized or rescued 40 animals in 2025-26 and 44 in 2026-27 (till the time of the reply – October 2026) he department has also installed 123 cages in 2025-26 and 86 in 2026-27. It has reported that 168 animals were driven back, provided safe passage in 2025-26 and 122 in 2026-27. Just four animals were found dead in 2025-26 and two in 2026-27. The reply does not specify which species were involved.
The division’s staff-strength annexure enumerates posts including deputy conservator, ACF (Wildlife), range officers, wildlife foresters, deputy foresters, wildlife guards, watchers, farash and helpers. It lists no veterinary posts. The reply does not say whether another wing, such as the office of the Regional Wildlife Warden, Kashmir, runs a veterinary facility.
