Bangalore: State Loses its Own 'Steve Irwin' Dr Vishwanath
 
by Bala Chauhan/DHNS  
 
Bangalore, Jan 3: Another "Steve Irwin" lost forever? And almost for the same reasons! Not in Australia but in Bangalore, this time. Early on Wednesday morning, Dr G K Vishwanath (52), assistant director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, government of Karnataka died at a private hospital in Bangalore after being grievously injured by a wild elephant two months ago. 

He is perhaps the first wildlife veterinarian in the State to have lost his life thus. He was cremated at the TR Mills crematory in Chamarajpet on Wednesday afternoon.

Dr Vishwanath was on deputation to the Forest Department and posted at the Bannerghatta Biological Park. He had won the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2007. He was attacked by the wild elephant on November 10 last year inside the Park, near the pre-historic animal park adjacent to the herbivore safari.

“He spotted the wild elephant coming inside the Park along with a tame elephant and decided to chase it back into the forest with help of the staff. The pachyderm charged at him and he could not run. 
 
In the process the animal crushed his spine and injured him seriously. Vishwanath was rushed to Apollo Hospital where he was kept for one month. He was later shifted to Gurushree Hospital in Chandra Layout,” said Assistant Conservator of Forests, Deputy Director, Bannerghatta Biological Park, Shankar.

Dr Vishwanath had a painful end. “He was on life support system for one month. He died today at 4:30 am. He is survived by his wife Jagadamba and son Rakesh, a civil engineer,” said Shankar.

Known for his compassion for wild animals, Dr Vishwanath had specialised in treating and operating upon wild animals and tranquilising elephants, tigers and lions.

“He was in the Forest Department for the last 15 years. Earlier he was posted at Shimoga Wildlife Division and was transferred to the Bannerghatta Biological Park on June 17, 2005.”

“Since then, he was tirelessly looking after the sick animals here,” said the forest officer.

Masti, the dreaded tiger at the Park, was one of his patients. He had treated the big cat for its wounds.
Five months ago, when a leopard had strayed into a Hosur shopping complex, Dr Vishwanath rushed there to rescue the beast.

He tranquilised the animal and later released it into the forest.

“He was very good with animals. They would take to him easily. He was always available at anytime of the day. If there was an animal in distress even in the middle of the night, Dr Vishwanath would come in with his kit to treat his patient. He was very daring even at this age. It’s a huge loss not only to the Department, but also to the animals,” he added.

Not an easy job

“A wildlife veterinarian’s job is not easy at all, which is why perhaps we have only three vets in the department though there are seven posts. Four posts are vacant. Dr Vishwanath knew no fear and was very caring towards animals.”

“If he were alive, he would have continued to do what he loved doing most — attending to sick or traumatised wild animals,” said Chief Conservator of Forests (Wild Life) I B Srivastava.

In his death, the veterinarian has joined the league of ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin, of Australia, who died in a diving accident in Queensland in September 2006 when he was stung in his heart by a stingray while filming a documentary near the Low Isles.