Pune: The Ela Transit Treatment Centre of Ela Foundation and Maharashtra Forest Department (MFD) has been taking care of a pregnant chinkara that was found wounded (leg fractured) in Pingori village of Purandar taluka. The chinkara, which was being chased by dogs, was found in a snare.

Dr Satish Pande of Ela Foundation said that the incident caused a fracture in one of the hind legs of the deer.

"The chinkara was probably being chased by the stray dogs when it got caught in a snare set up by hunters. We rescued her, but her leg was badly injured, and a bone was fractured in two places. With consultation from a veterinarian surgeon, we cleaned the wound, and also plastered her leg," says Dr Pande.

The chinkara was scared initially but has warmed up and has begun to eat and pass normal stools.

"It usually takes around three weeks for a broken bone to recover. But since this wound is complicated, it might take more time," Dr Pande tells us. "The deer is heavily pregnant, and we are expecting delivery any day now. We will release her only after she has completely recovered."

He also added that stray dogs and traps set by hunters are a major threat to chinkaras, especially during this time of the year, which is also their breeding season.

"The pregnant chinkaras cannot run as fast as usual, which makes them an even easier target for dogs as well as hunters. The stray dogs, especially, are very hazardous, as we see such cases of chinkaras attacked and killed by dogs very often," adds Dr Pande.

While the centre opened only a month ago, Dr Pande has observed cases of wounded animals almost every other day. While working with the MFD, he has taken care of over a 1,000 such animals in the past 25 years.

Rahul Lonkar, Rajkumar Pawar, Dr Devendra Vartak, Mahesh Shinde, Umaji Khomane are attending the chinkara and assisting Dr Satish Pande for its treatment. Treatment is going on under the guidance of senior Vet. Surgeon Dr Shriniwas Vishwasrao. Shri. Vivek Khandekar, CCF, Pune, RGO Saswad, ACF, Bhor, and Mr Golande, Forester, Jejuri have also contributed in assisting.