Despite speedbreakers, stag killed in Bandipur

Chamarajanagar: Speed-breakers every 500 metres on the 14-km stretch of the National Highway 67 from Melukammanahalli to Kekkahalla in the Bandipur National Park seem not have helped in bringing down the speed of vehicles as a fresh road kill of a stag (spotted deer) was reported recently. The animal has been run over by a speeding unknown vehicle near a tank close to the administrative zone of the park.

Forest staff spotted the carcass on the road and alerted senior officials. A necropsy was conducted on Saturday before the carcass was disposed of on Saturday. A case of unnatural death was registered. 

The part of NH-67 passing through the park is closed for vehicular traffic from 9 pm to 6 am to allow wild animals to move around freely.

The forest staff suspect that an unknown vehicle moving from Melukam—manahalli to the neighbouring Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu might have knocked down the deer. Officials are gathering details of the suspect vehicle from gate entries at check-posts at Melukammanahalli and Kekkahalla.

For the last few months, Bandipur officials have taken up an awareness drive and distributed pamphlets among vehicle drivers, advising them to move at 30-35 kmph inside the forest. The pamphlet also includes a warning that erring drivers will be fined. But that does not seem to have had any effect in educating or deterring drivers.

Bandipur patrolling staff said that despite warnings, motorists ride through the forest at high speeds, endangering the lives of animals. The traffic is heavy especially during weekends and of late, traffic jams have been reported within the forest.