24 December,2025 09:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Radio collar used to track movement, habitat use, and behaviour of released gaur in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. Pics/RESQ CT and STR
A gaur rescued with severe injuries in Kolhapur in 2023 has been successfully released back into the wild this month after nearly two years of intensive treatment and rehabilitation - an uncommon success in wildlife recovery. The animal was released into the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) after being fitted with a radio collar to enable the Forest Department to monitor its movement, habitat use, and post-release behaviour.
The gaur was rescued in September 2023 from Malkapur in Kolhapur district by the Rapid Response Team (RRT) of the Kolhapur forest department. Then, a very young fawn with an infant coat was found with its front left leg trapped in a drainage opening, resulting in a complex limb fracture.
The animal was shifted to the Wildlife Treatment and Transit Centre (TTC) in Pune, where the fractured limb was stabilised immediately. It later underwent two orthopaedic surgeries. Given the complexity of the injury and nerve compression, the veterinary team sought guidance from noted neurosurgeon Dr Rajesh Paranis. Treatment was carried out by a team led by Dr Chetan Vanjari at RESQ CT.
Forest officials said amputation was ruled out as it would result in permanent captivity, particularly given the steep and undulating terrain that gaurs naturally inhabit and navigate using all four limbs. During rehabilitation, the animal was housed in a large outdoor enclosure, introduced to native fodder and put through a structured physiotherapy programme to restore strength and mobility.
Neha Panchamiya, founder and president of RESQ Charitable Trust, said, "For megaherbivores like the gaur, full use of all limbs is vital for survival in steep terrain. Despite severe fractures, our priority was to save the limb rather than amputate, preserving his future in the wild."
Tushar Chavan, IFS, Field Director, Sahyadri Tiger Reserve said, "A gaur and a sambar deer have been fitted with radio collars and released back into the wild at the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve as part of a scientific monitoring initiative by the Forest Department. The radio-collaring will allow officials and researchers to closely track their movements and daily activity patterns, helping generate crucial data on habitat use, home range, movement corridors and behavioural responses in a forested landscape. This information will aid in understanding how these key herbivore species utilise different habitats across seasons, their interaction with the ecosystem, and potential overlaps with human-dominated areas. The findings are expected to strengthen long-term conservation planning, improve habitat management, and support informed decision-making for wildlife protection in the Sahyadri landscape."
