Ratnanagar. The first wildlife hospital in the countryl has come into operation from Friday. The hospital, constructed adjacent to National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), was inaugurated by Secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Environment Bishwa Nath Oli.

The hospital will provide treatment facilities to the injured and sick wild animals, which earlier used to be taken to facilities at Bardiya National Park and other places.

The construction of the hospital, which had started  six years back, had been completed a year ago, but due to the lack of medical equipments and supplies, it could not begin the service.The two-storey hospital has OPD, operation theatre, lab, office, dispensary, meeting hall and employee quarters.

The Chitwan National Park (CNP) and NTNC have prepared Wildlife Hospital Management Procedure-2077 BS for the operation of the hospital, said chief conservation officer at CNP Ananath Baral. Office staff of the Veterinary Department, wildlife health technicians and  veterinary doctors of the CNP have been assigned to provide the services at the hospital.

According to Dr Baburam Lamichhnae, chief of NTNC Sauraha, the total cost of construction has come around Rs 39 million.  International organizations like the WWF Nepal, Denver Juko among other agencies provided financial support for the construction.