Canine chew incidents are a critical public well being problem in southern India, and regardless of numerous measures to manage the difficulty, rabies-related deaths proceed to rise.
In keeping with the federal government’s response to Lok Sabha on July 22, 2025, greater than 370,000 canine bites and 54 rabies deaths had been recorded in 2024.
The federal government is answerable for managing the inhabitants of stray canines in native governments. SP Singh Baghel mentioned in writing by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Care and Dairy that Animal Contraception (ABC) applications are being applied nationwide to manage the variety of out of doors canines. Nevertheless, regardless of the continuing sterilization drive and vaccination marketing campaign, knowledge from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Kerala present that the issue is way from being solved. The variety of stray canines continues to develop, and residents’ responses are restricted.
Sacrifices for human well being
In Tamil Nadu, for instance, the Public Well being Division reported an astounding canine chew of Rs 124 lakh and 4 rabies deaths within the first three months of 2025.
By mid-2025, 18 rabies deaths had already been recorded, suggesting a yearly mortality charge. Regardless of these harsh statistics, the state’s sterilization efforts are struggling to accommodate the rising inhabitants of stray canines.
The official Chennai survey estimated stray canines value Rs 18,000 within the metropolis in 2024, however the precise quantity may very well be a lot greater. Consultants suggest sterilizing at the least 90% of canines in a brief time frame to interrupt the reproductive cycle, however knowledge from Higher Chennai Company exhibits that the sterilization depend in 2023 was 14,885, a slight discount at 14,678 in 2024.
In the meantime, in Karnataka, canine bites value Rs 36,000 and 42 rabies died in 2024. This case continued in 2025, with Bangalore City reporting 8,878 canine bites between January and June. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) area, which incorporates town’s core, recorded 13,831 circumstances in simply six months. Though no rabies deaths had been reported in these areas throughout this era, Bangalore City was answerable for 9 of the 19 rabies deaths throughout the state.
The city scenario, significantly in poorer areas, displays the continuing challenges in managing the inhabitants of stray canines, regardless of efforts within the wealthier areas the place authorities businesses function.
In Telangana, Hyderabad additionally noticed a dramatic enhance in canine bites. This has greater than doubled from 10,078 incidents in 2022 to 21,131 in 2024. The scenario is dire, with Hyderabad reporting biting of greater than 100 canines on daily basis.
Between 2021 and 2024, the state recorded canine chew incidents of greater than Rs 33,000, and Hyderabad contributed considerably to this whole. Native residents have expressed worry of letting their kids play outdoors for aggressive stray canines. “My kids can play safely inside the complicated as a result of I reside in a society that prohibits stray canines,” mentioned N. Sravani, the five-year-old mom.
In Kerala, the scenario is equally involved. Canine chew circumstances have skyrocketed from Rs 1.19 lakh in 2014 to round 3.16 lakh in 2024, greater than doubled prior to now decade. The rise in rabies-related deaths is simply as worrying as deaths, which have been 25 in 2023, 26 in 2024 and already 16 within the first 5 months of 2025.
Importantly, a few of the deceased have been vaccinated towards rabies, suggesting that in some circumstances the virus can attain the nervous system shortly, suggesting that the vaccine will not be efficient. In response, the Kerala authorities has plans to deploy cell ABC items throughout all 152 block panchayats, aiming to supply higher management over the inhabitants of stray canines.
For a lot of, the worry of stray canines is a every day actuality, with easy actions like taking their kids for walks or taking part in outdoors of adverse duties.
Challenges in controlling stray canine populations
The power to handle and management stray canine populations is hampered by a number of essential challenges. The important thing points are the shortage of ample infrastructure and the shortage of skilled veterinarian specialists, significantly from the attitude of animal contraceptive centres.
Shruti Vinod Raj, an honorary member of the Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Committee, mentioned in Chennai alone, 17 ABC centres are wanted to deal with the rising variety of canines. Presently there are solely 5 within the metropolis and there are 10 extra plans. Current facilities will not be enough to fulfill demand, and solely a small portion of the sterilization procedures required are being applied.
Moreover, there’s a important scarcity of veterinarians eligible to hold out these essential procedures, Raj mentioned. The shortage of expert professionals in these facilities additional exacerbates the issue. In response, the Animal Welfare Committee and the Animal Care Bureau are working to supply focused coaching to veterinarians to work specifically at these centres, however the initiative remains to be in its early phases.
One other main problem is the type of bureaucratic purple tape that delays the institution of a brand new ABC centre. The Hyderabad animal welfare group, which works with native organizations for the ABC, famous that it might take years for proposals to arrange a brand new centre to be accepted, and through that point the inhabitants of misplaced canines might stay unchecked and unchecked. In lots of circumstances, by the point new centres turn out to be operational, the stray inhabitants has elevated considerably.
Locals are additionally conscious of those gaps within the system. Bangalore resident Ok. Guru commented that whereas some rich areas have seen a decline within the variety of stray canines because of aggressive authorities intervention, the scenario in different elements of town stays harsh. “In rich areas, there seems to be some advances in controlling stray canine populations, however in different elements of town, the issue is barely getting worse,” he mentioned.
Consultants are in search of a extra coordinated and broader response, together with higher infrastructure, extra skilled veterinarians, and sooner selections to handle points comprehensively. Till these challenges are addressed, canine chew elevated and rabies deaths can final.
Printed – July 26, 2025 05:34 PM IS
