Assam’s Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), located at Panbari near Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, has completed 25 years of dedicated service to wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation.
Established on August 28, 2002, CWRC was India’s first dedicated facility for hand-raising, treating and rehabilitating orphaned and injured wild animals before releasing them back into their natural habitats. Over the years, the centre has emerged as a major institution for science-based wildlife conservation.
CWRC is jointly managed by the Assam Forest Department and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in partnership with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
Since its establishment, CWRC and its allied Mobile Veterinary Service (MVS) units have responded to more than 10,000 wildlife rescue cases, with nearly 68 per cent of the rescued animals successfully treated and released into the wild.
With two MVS units, the centre provides emergency veterinary services across eastern and western Assam. Its teams also hand-raise orphaned animals when necessary and prepare rehabilitated animals for release using scientifically established protocols.
Flood rescue has remained an important part of CWRC’s operations. During floods, its teams work with the Assam Forest Department to rescue animals stranded, injured or displaced by rising waters, provide emergency veterinary care and reunite young animals with their mothers whenever possible.
CWRC’s work extends beyond rescue and rehabilitation. The centre also engages with local communities through awareness and outreach programmes aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflict and promoting community-led conservation.
Over the past 25 years, CWRC has contributed to several landmark conservation initiatives. Since 2006, it has played a key role in the reintroduction of rhinos into Manas National Park by rehabilitating rescued animals. The centre has also been involved in the rehabilitation of Asiatic black bear cubs in Manas and Dihing Patkai National Parks, rescued wild buffaloes in Dibru-Saikhowa National Park and Laokhowa-Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries, as well as rescued hoolock gibbons and several other important wildlife species.
The institution has also evolved into a training centre for wildlife rescue veterinarians, biologists and conservation practitioners.
As it enters its 25th year, CWRC is preparing to transform itself into one of India’s leading Centres of Excellence in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.
Kaziranga Field Director Dr C Ramesh, IFS, said CWRC’s contribution to rescuing, rehabilitating and conserving Assam’s wildlife had been invaluable, particularly in responding swiftly to animals in distress. He said the institution had not only saved countless wild animals but had also strengthened scientific understanding and the state’s capacity to manage human-wildlife interactions.
Rathin Barman, Joint Director of WTI, described CWRC’s 25-year journey as one built on compassion, science and partnership. He said the centre had demonstrated what could be achieved when conservation organisations and governments worked together to give rescued animals a second chance to return to the wild.
Dr Bhaskar Choudhury, CWRC Centre Manager and lead veterinarian at WTI, said the institution’s journey had been marked by compassion, scientific learning and community participation. He expressed gratitude to the Assam Forest Department, Central Zoo Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, College of Veterinary Science, Guwahati, and local communities for their continued support.