On-Ground Volunteer Network Helps in Rescue of a Hog Deer

27 January 2026

Living on the fringes of forest areas often leads to unexpected wildlife encounters. In these critical moments, a trained local response network acts as the bridge between a potential tragedy and a successful rescue. 🌲🤝

We saw this firsthand recently when two of our HEAL volunteers in Chhat Singimari, Cooch Behar, stepped in to help a deer in distress. The deer had wandered into the village, and after being chased by dogs, it ducked into a local home in a state of total panic. 🏠

Volunteers and Villagers Help Save the Deer

The villagers showed incredible compassion, managing to safely secure the deer in a room while our volunteers Anirban Das and Shubhankar Sen alerted the authorities. Our Zonal Coordinator, Ardhendu Banik, immediately reached the spot with the Forest Department (FD) to lead the rescue operation. The animal was taken to the Forest Department Rescue centre. 🚑

Once safely in our care, a veterinarian from FD treated a wound on its hoof and performed a full health check-up to ensure there were no other injuries. 🩹 After a day of quiet observation, the deer regained its strength and was released back into the wild. 🌿✨

The Forest Department vet performs a thorough checkup of the deer as HEAL rescue and volunteer team members look on

This rescue wasn’t just about luck—it was about a community and a volunteer network that knew exactly what to do. Our local “eyes and ears” continue to be our greatest strength. 👣👁️

Watch the rescue operation here,