Delhi’s urban landscape has inadvertently created a precarious environment for wildlife. Official data reveals that more than 10,000 wild animals were rescued and rehabilitated at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary between 2021 and 2025. The initiative underscores the complexity of balancing urban expansion with conservation efforts.
Civic agencies managed the relocation of over 6,691 rhesus macaques, with NGOs stepping in to handle multi-species rescues spanning reptiles, avians, and small mammals. Notably, snakes constituted a significant portion of these rescues, reflecting the biodiversity present even in human settlements.
Yearly rescue variations highlight the seasonal and location-specific challenges of wildlife management in Delhi. Injury, entrapment, and electrocution emerged as primary threats, with repeated instances of large animal rescues like nilgai, emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated urban-wildlife management strategies.
(With inputs from agencies.)