The wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in Jigmeling, Sarpang, is taking on a new role as a public attraction. The 15-acre centre, established in 2015 to rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife, is now open to visitors, while the Forest Office continues to improve its facilities to make the centre safer and more accessible.Crocodiles, bears, deer, wild boars, birds and tortoises are among the animals visitors can now see at the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Jigmeling.
Established in 2015, the centre was set up to rescue, treat and rehabilitate injured wildlife and respond to human-wildlife conflict in southern Bhutan. Today, about four staff members care for the animals and manage the centre.
With public access now part of its role, the centre is developing the 15-acre site into a more visitor-friendly facility. Animal enclosures and viewing areas are being improved, while railings and proper footpaths are being added to allow visitors to observe the animals safely.“As we open the centre to visitors, we need proper railings, footpaths and other facilities to make it suitable as an ecotourism site. This can generate some revenue to support the centre, while our rescue and rehabilitation work continues as before,” said Sangay Dorji, Focal Officer, Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Jigmeling, Sarpang.
For the centre, however, opening to the public also means taking greater responsibility for visitor safety. Earlier, when it functioned mainly as a rescue facility, infrastructure to separate visitors from wild animals was limited. Now, safety enclosures and railings are being installed to maintain a safe distance between people and animals.