Rajkot: Veterinary science was a significant discipline in ancient India. Ayurveda scriptures describe various remedies for animal health. The Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar, has been selected as the nodal agency in India for research integrating ayurveda with veterinary science. The institute will conduct scientific studies on treatments for wild animals in collaboration with Vantara. The research aims to validate ayurvedic remedies that may later be used for treating wild animals, subject to regulatory approvals. Vantara in Jamnagar is India’s largest private rescue and rehabilitation centre for wild animals, providing advanced medical treatment and care for rescued and injured species. Tanuja Nesari, director of ITRA, said the institute has entered an agreement with Vantara to conduct integrated validation studies. “This means we will carry out practical research to scientifically validate ayurvedic remedies based on evidence,” she said. Nesari said applications were invited from ayurveda MD graduates to participate in the project. “We plan to recruit five doctors who will work in five different research areas. We received over 100 applications and will scrutinize them carefully,” she added. She noted that while most veterinary universities focus on domesticated animals, this project is specifically aimed at treatments for wild animals. The research team will use ayurveda literature to prepare treatments and conduct trials in accordance with Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) rules. Findings will be published in medical journals, and after regulatory approvals, the remedies may be made available to veterinary practitioners. Ayurveda literature contains extensive references to veterinary medicine. Texts such as Gau Ayu, Hasti Ayu, Palakapya Samhita, Matanga Lila and Shalihotra Samhita provide detailed guidance on animal treatment, covering disease management and methods to maintain animal health. Shubhangi Kamble, professor in the Department of Basic Principles of Ayurveda, said Hasti Ayu and Palakapya Samhita contain detailed descriptions related to elephants. “These texts explain the types of diseases elephants may suffer from, the medicines used for treatment, their preparation and formulations and the ointments that should be applied,” she said. Kamble added that several ancient texts on elephants and horses are considered encyclopaedias of veterinary science. “In ancient times, animals were widely used in warfare and agriculture. Books were written to ensure their longevity and proper care and these texts still serve as references today,” she said. She also noted that ayurveda describes three interconnected realms: the human kingdom, the animal kingdom and the plant kingdom, all of which are interrelated and interdependent.
