Overview
- For the first time, the Remount and Veterinary Corps marched an animal contingent on Kartavya Path during the Republic Day parade on Jan. 26.
- The formation comprised two Bactrian camels, four Zanskar ponies, four trained raptors, and sixteen army dogs from indigenous and traditional military breeds.
- Recently inducted Bactrian camels support Ladakh operations with endurance at altitudes beyond 15,000 feet and load capacity up to about 250 kg.
- Zanskar ponies, inducted in 2020, are deployed in high-altitude zones including Siachen, typically carrying 40–60 kg and aiding logistics and patrols.
- Raptors are used for surveillance and bird‑strike prevention, while RVC‑trained dogs from Meerut conduct explosive detection, tracking, counter‑terror roles, guarding, disaster response, and search‑and‑rescue, aligning with self‑reliance initiatives.