In line with directives issued by the Supreme Court, the Tripura government has intensified its efforts to manage and control stray dogs and animals roaming across the state. A comprehensive, multi-departmental drive has been launched, focusing on public safety, animal welfare, and sustainable population control.

Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat’s Press Conference Hall on Tuesday, Secretary of the Animal Resources Development Department, Deepa D. Nair, said that sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs have been made mandatory under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. To ensure effective implementation, Animal Birth Control Centres and animal shelters are being established by municipal and local bodies in coordination with the Animal Resources Development Department.

She informed that the Agartala Municipal Corporation has already set up an Animal Birth Control Centre at Hapania, while an animal shelter is operational at R.K. Nagar. Similar facilities are being developed in other municipal areas with the support of Animal Welfare Organisations. To strengthen oversight, nodal officers have been deployed at sensitive and high-footfall locations such as educational institutions, hospitals, bus stands, and railway stations.

Highlighting highway safety measures, the Secretary said that round-the-clock surveillance and rapid response systems have been introduced to control stray animals along national highways. The initiative is being jointly implemented by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Public Works Department, Transport Department, Municipal Corporation, and district administrations. Stray animals identified on highways are being safely relocated to designated shelters and cowsheds equipped with food, water, and veterinary care. Dedicated helplines have also been launched to enable citizens to report stray animal-related concerns.

Speaking at the press conference, Director of the Animal Resources Development Department, Dr. Neeraj Kumar Chanchal, assured that anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin are available in adequate quantities at all hospitals across the state.

He added that awareness programmes are being conducted in schools and colleges to educate students on the behaviour of stray animals, diseases transmitted by them, preventive measures, and basic first aid. The state government is also working towards strengthening infrastructure for stray animal management and providing specialised training to workers involved in the sector.

Currently, Tripura has three cow shelters located at Devipur, Mohanpur, and Dharmanagar. Additionally, five more cow shelters will be established across five districts through NGOs. The department has also rescued around 2,000 cows through sustained campaigns aimed at preventing cow smuggling.