News– The Government of India is drafting a National Wildlife Health Policy (NWHP) to strengthen wildlife disease surveillance, research, and diagnostics. National Wildlife Health Policy.
About National Wildlife Health Policy
- The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) launched the National Wildlife Health Policy (NWHP) to improve wildlife health management and address zoonotic diseases.
- This initiative is an integral part of the National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-31) and follows the One Health approach, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
Key Institutions & Initiatives under NWHP
National Referral Centre for Wildlife (NRC-W)
- Recently inaugurated in Junagadh, Gujarat, NRC-W serves as a central hub for wildlife health management.
- It is India’s first dedicated wildlife disease diagnostic and research centre.
- The centre investigates wildlife mortalities, disease outbreaks, and provides treatment solutions.
National Wildlife Health Information System
- A proposed initiative under NWHP to streamline disease reporting and surveillance across different regions.
- It will collaborate with the National Animal Disease Referral Expert System and the National Animal Disease Reporting System to forecast and mitigate potential disease outbreaks.
Central Zoo Authority (CZA)
- It is a statutory body established under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- It was formed in 1992 under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
- It works to enhance wildlife conservation efforts and maintain the health of animals in zoological parks.
Alignment with India’s Wildlife Conservation Framework
National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-31)
- It comprises 103 conservation actions and 250 projects.
- It introduces standard protocols for disease surveillance in tiger reserves and protected areas.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
- It provides a legal framework for monitoring and controlling wildlife diseases to safeguard biodiversity.
