Sunday, October 22, 2017

8 SGNP animals became roadkill this year on path meant for govt staff.

Time of India: Clara Lewis: Sunday, October 22, 2017.
Between January and July this year, a wild boar, two langurs and two spotted deer were killed by speeding vehicles in SGNP's (Sanja Gandhi Natinal Park)  core forest area.
As per information got by members of the NGO River March under the RTI Act, the deaths occurred on Tulsi lake, Kanheri road. Access to the core forest is restricted to personnel of forest department, BMC (Tulsi lake supplies water to the city) and the police. It is these officials who use the roads.
"Tulsi lake area is a bio-diversity hotspot. It is between two hills and is a valley with abundant water supply and so it is a magnet for wild animals," said naturalist Shardul Bijaikar. "While a record is kept of large animals that are killed, there is no documentation of small animals killed."
Recently, a sambar was found dead near the visitors' area in the park. It was discovered due to the stench, said Gopal Jhaveri, a regular walker actively involved in improving the park environment.
Activists are now seeking a ban on vehicles inside the forest area. "The forest department has approved use of battery-operated vehicles for tourists which are yet to be operational. Similar vehicles must be provided to officials from the forest, BMC and police moving in the core forest area," said Tejas Shah of River March.
Bijaikar said a couple of years ago the department began maintaining a register of vehicles entering the park at night. It was found that a Sumo owned by a watchman at the park was being used to ferry visitors to Tulsi lake to see wild animals at night. The watchman was later suspended.
Jhaveri said two leopards too have been killed in road accidents this year.
"The NHAI will build passes for wild animals at Karnala bird sanctuary and such passes must be built on highways that skirt SGNP," said Jhaveri.
A Anwar, chief conservator of forests, SGNP, said most deaths were on the road from the Borivli main gate to Kanheri Caves. "The Tulsi lake road is not very good so speeding is difficult. Also, we have put up drums on this road to slow down vehicles," he said.