Wildlife diseases management: a case study from Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India

Wildlife diseases management and wildlife health monitoring in protected areas is a preclude to the management of mega fauna in the protected areas. A case study from Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR), Kerala, India in free ranges animals’ revels that two important diseases like amphistomiasis in Sambar and anthrax in Elephant. They were controlled by effective management interventions by extensive survey to detect the diseased animals. The diagnosis was based on field observations and treatment was done not only for the affected animals but also localizing and treating the source of the pathogens. An elaborate health monitoring protocol was developed in PTRfor management of wildlife diseases. The present study gives a base line data in the wildlife health monitoring in South India.