COIMBATORE: Tamil Nadu's first wildlife transit and treatment centre, built for Rs 19.5 crore in 53 hectares at Pethikuttai in Coimbatore, was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday.

The state-of-the-art facility comprises an operating theatre and 17 wildlife enclosures for carnivores, herbivores, birds, snakes and hoofed animals.

Equipped with modern facilities, the centre is meant to provide treatment to injured wild animals and those separated from their groups due to increasing urbanisation, habitat loss, road accidents, poaching and climate change, as well as animals affected by human-wildlife conflict.

Udhayanidhi Stalin also inaugurated an elephant camp at Chadivayal, set up for Rs 8 crore and the Tamil Nadu Forest Archives Repository, established at a cost of Rs 2.60 crore. The elephant camp has housing facilities for mahouts, a natural pond and a shower.

Upon inaugurating these facilities through video conference from Tamil Nadu Forest Academy, the Deputy Chief Minister also handed over rifles and pistols to the forest department personnel.

The Additional Chief Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forests, Supriya Sahu, said that modernisation of the state's forest force is in full swing.

"The frontline forest personnel were equipped with essential arms and ammunition to strengthen forest and wildlife protection. In phase one, a total of 123 of 315 sporting rifles, 65 of 9mm auto pistols, and 204 12-bore pump action guns, including ammunition for all the above, for 17,376 rounds were provided for Rs 5.30 crore. Our goal is to enhance the safety, confidence, and operational readiness of the forest force to help protect forest resources and wildlife effectively," she said.