The Hind in the Stream

Needs Sponsor

Goal $50

Medical

The Hind in the Stream

Submerged in icy water, only her head above the surface.

The call came from a Forestry Department outpost. A hind deer had been chased by a pack of dogs and had fled into a freezing stream to escape. By the time we arrived, she was tucked behind a jagged rock, submerged in the icy current with only her head above water.

We moved in silently. Wildlife rescues require it — any sudden movement could send her into a flight response on slippery river stones, and she would injure herself. We covered her eyes and ears to reduce the sensory load. She was shaking, her body without strength.

Villagers had brought ropes and belts. With their help, we lifted her out of the water. We covered her with our own jackets until blankets and hot water bottles arrived. Forestry Guards cut a path through thorn and bramble with their machetes so we could carry her up the steep slope to the road.

In the rescue vehicle, our check found her body temperature below 32°C. Three of our staff sat in the back of the car with her for more than four hours, with hot water bottles, heavy blankets, and continuous manual rubbing to bring her temperature back into a safe range.

By evening, she seemed ready to return. We drove her to a quiet clearing and opened the back of the car. She did not move. Half an hour passed. We could not tell whether there was a spinal injury we had missed or whether she was simply not yet strong enough.

We chose to wait. She spent the night in the back of the rescue vehicle, parked on our premises, warm and undisturbed.

In the morning, her ears were straight, and her eyes were sharp. She stood up when we looked in. We returned to the same clearing and opened the doors, and this time she did not hesitate — one leap, and she was gone into the forest.

Wildlife rescues require specialized supplies, rapid transport, and the trained patience of staff working in cold, difficult terrain. When the next call comes in, your donations are what allow us to respond.

Hind Photo

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Frequently asked questions

BARC provides rescue and treatment for injured wildlife, including monkeys, birds, and other native Bhutanese species that would otherwise be unable to survive without intervention. We currently house 77 macaques and other wildlife at our sanctuary. Our goal is rehabilitation and release when possible, with permanent sanctuary for those who cannot survive in the wild.
BARC operates a 24/7 emergency rescue service that responds to distress calls throughout Bhutan. We rescue injured, sick, and abandoned animals and provide them with veterinary care. For further away areas of Bhutan, we organize rescue and transport to our Center jointly with other animal welfare organizations and supporters. Your support can help us to strengthen our rescue services so we can help more animals in need.
Not yet — and it is one of our most pressing capability gaps. Bhutan's terrain means many animals in need of care live hours from Thimphu on roads that become impassable in monsoon season, so a fully equipped 4WD mobile veterinary unit would dramatically extend BARC's reach into rural communities for spay/neuter campaigns, emergency response, working-animal care, and disease surveillance. Building this capability is a near-term priority, and we are actively seeking funding partners to make it a reality.