Flying squirrel, vulture rescued from UTSR, treated at Naya Raipur’s Jungle Safari

RAIPUR: A rare flying squirrel, found badly injured and tangled in barbed wire at a CRPF camp inside the buffer of Udanti–Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR), has highlighted the importance of wildlife protection beyond tigers and elephants, senior forest officials said.

Satovisha Samajdar, CCF, Raipur, told TOI that the nocturnal mammal was trapped in barbed wire fencing at a CRPF camp in the Indagaon buffer range. The squirrel had suffered multiple injuries and faced a high risk of infection.

A USTR rescue team safely extracted the animal and shifted it to the rescue and rehabilitation centre at Jungle Safari Zoological Park in Naya Raipur for specialised care.

Veterinarian Dr Jadiya said the squirrel responded well to treatment and is now active and recovering. A decision on its release into a suitable forest habitat will be taken after a full fitness assessment.

The operation, carried out around Republic Day, is being highlighted by the state forest department as an example of conservation that extends beyond flagship species. CCF Samajdar said such small mammals often go unnoticed and untreated, even though they play a key role in forest ecosystems.

The flying squirrel rescue was followed by another critical intervention involving a vulture, recently found exhausted and severely dehydrated within the Udanti–Sitanadi landscape. Forest staff at USTR first secured the bird and later transferred it to Jungle Safari, where veterinary teams provided intensive care, hydration and feeding.

Officials said the vulture—believed to have flown in from the Tadoba–Andhari region of Maharashtra—has since regained strength, started feeding normally and is gaining weight.

“Vultures are among India’s most threatened birds and are crucial for ecological balance, acting as natural scavengers that prevent the spread of disease by disposing of carcasses,” the CCF said.

Forest officials described both rescues as a “joint effort,” combining in-situ conservation in protected forests with ex-situ clinical care at Jungle Safari.

The operations were coordinated on the field side by USTR Deputy Director Varun Jain, with institutional support from Jungle Safari Director Tejas Sekhar.


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