BBMP to Commence Street Dog Census After Four-Year Hiatus

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has scheduled a street dog census by the end of June, marking the first survey in four years. In the previous census conducted in 2019, approximately three lakh street dogs were identified.

The primary objective of this census is to enable the BBMP to assess the effectiveness of its vaccination and sterilization programs in reducing the street dog population.

A team of 100 individuals will carry out the census with equal representation from the BBMP and the state animal husbandry department. Dr. K. P. Ravikumar, the Joint Director (Animal Husbandry) at BBMP, explains, “We have established 50 teams, each comprising two members. One team member will drive the vehicle while the other will identify and record the data of the street dogs.” Geotagged images of each dog will be uploaded into a designated application, along with pertinent details such as gender and neuter status, determined by the presence of an ear clip.

Each team will cover a distance of 5 kilometers per day between 6 am and 10 am, a time when the dogs are less active and more easily observable. “The areas assigned to each team have already been mapped out. They will visit each area on two consecutive days to document the dogs present. Following a six-day interval, department officials will revisit the same locations to verify the population,” clarifies Dr. Ravikumar.

The entire process is expected to conclude within 15 days. Subsequently, the collected data will be forwarded to ICAR (the Indian Council of Agricultural Research) for analysis and to obtain the final population estimates, as was done in the 2019 census.

Microchip Pilot Program for Tracking

Based on the census data, BBMP’s animal husbandry department will initiate a pilot project involving the insertion of microchips in 100 dogs. These microchips will enable retrieving essential information upon scanning, including vaccination and sterilization records. Since many dogs tend to be excluded from BBMP’s annual vaccination program, while others receive duplicate vaccinations, the microchip data is expected to ensure proper immunization. “The specific ward chosen for the pilot program will depend on the census data. We will evaluate any adverse effects experienced by the dogs and assess the program’s effectiveness before deciding on its expansion,” states Dr. Ravikumar.