Anashi-Dandeli: Biggest reserve, no RFO to man it

Bengaluru: Considered the largest wildlife range in Karnataka, the Anashi Range in the Anashi-Dandeli tiger Reserve has been running ‘headless’ for the last two months.

There has been no appointment of a Range Forest Officer, though this particular range has a high incidence of  poaching  and timber smuggling.

On October 31, a poacher was caught with three monitor lizards in Kadra Section of  Anshi Range thanks to the efforts of the lower rung forest officers.

Shockingly, the Ranger of Kumbarwada Range, who is now holding the additional charge of the 400 sq km Anashi Range, is responsible for 770 sq km of Tiger Reserve area, which is almost as large in size as the Nagarhole forests.

The tiger population in Anashi-Dandeli reserve has been on the rise in the last few years, but leaving a wildlife range unsupervised by a governing authority is not a good sign for conservation, fear wildlife experts.

The Anashi range has eight sections and 12 Anti Poaching Camps (APCs). The Range has 21 beats and an adequate staff to manage the large area. But the  absence of an RFO has led to the payment for daily wage workers and other forest staff,  slowing down in the last two months.

In addition to illegal activities like poaching, the  Anashi reserve is also known for timber smuggling and road widening by private contractors without the consent of the National Board for Wildlife.

“The Anashi range is too large for the present staff to handle. Moreover, the absence of a Ranger means inadequate protection.

There were two RFOs posted at the Range in the last two months, but neither of them took charge.

Moreover, the delay in RFO appointments happens because it is the forest minister who decides on the postings, not the Chief Wildlife Warden or any other senior officer.

The Chief Wildlife Warden must be given the authority to pick officers for at least Tiger areas,” demanded a conservationist.

Director of Anashi-Dandeli Tiger Reserve Mr Sreenivasalu said that the posting of an RFO for Anashi range will soon be accomplished.

“A new officer is taking charge within a few days. And we are aware that the area of this particular range is larger than other ranges in the state.

Hence we are trying to shift some forest beats to other ranges for active protection,” he added.