The Government of Tripura has intensified efforts to manage stray animals and stray dogs across the state in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions issued on November 7, 2025, in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. (S) 5 of 2025. The measures aim to balance public safety with animal welfare through systematic and humane intervention.
Addressing a press conference at the Civil Secretariat on Tuesday, Deepa D Nair, Secretary of the Animal Resources Development Department (ARDD), said the state is fully committed to implementing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. These rules mandate the sterilization, vaccination, and humane management of stray dogs through designated ABC centres and specialized shelter homes.
She informed that local bodies, including municipal councils and urban local bodies, have been entrusted with implementing the programme, with technical support from the ARDD and registered animal welfare organizations. The Agartala Municipal Corporation has already operationalized an ABC Centre at Hapania, while the ARDD is running a shelter home at RK Nagar in collaboration with animal welfare groups. Helpline numbers and trained response teams have also been introduced to address public complaints.
Citing data from the 20th Livestock Census (2019), Nair said Tripura has 17,078 stray dogs and 3,361 stray cattle. To mitigate risks, coordinated drives are being conducted to restrict the presence of stray animals in sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, bus terminals, railway stations, sports complexes, and depots. Nodal officers have been appointed, cleanliness drives are being strengthened, and quarterly inspections are underway.
Special focus is also being given to highways, where inter-departmental teams involving NHIDCL, PWD, municipal bodies, the Transport Department, and district administrations are identifying accident-prone stretches. Round-the-clock highway patrols and rapid response units have been deployed, and stray animals found are being relocated to shelters and gaushalas with assured veterinary care.
Nair further said all hospitals maintain mandatory stocks of anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin, while awareness programmes on bite prevention and animal behaviour are being conducted in schools. Infrastructure expansion and manpower augmentation are planned in the next financial year.
Emphasizing humane practices, she urged citizens to promote responsible pet ownership, vaccination, adoption, and discourage abandonment. Other senior ARDD officials, including Director Neeraj Kumar Chanchal, were present at the briefing.
