Sakleshpur to be made wildlife sanctuary?

Hassan: The forest department plans to submit a proposal to declare about 40,000 hectares covering Arakalgudu, Yeslur, Sakleshpur and Alur ranges, known as chronic human-animal conflicts areas, a wildlife sanctuary in the interest of the wildlife in the region to the State Wildlife Board in April.

Speaking to DC,  Chief Conservator of Forests, A K Singh said he was  weighing the option of merging Sakleshpur sub-division with the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary of Madikeri, although  a similar proposal was struck down by the State Wildlife Board a couple of years ago. 

“Union Minister for Forests and Environment, Ramanath Rai now seems  interested in declaring the Sakleshpur sub-division a wildlife sanctuary. This will help in improving the animals’ habitat, in carrying out better surveillance , creating more  infrastructure, and appointment of experienced forest guards,” he explained.

While a wildlife conservationist believes the Sakleshpur sub-division lacks continuous forest tracts necessary for a wildlife sanctuary with  villages and coffee plantations occupying portions of the forests, Mr Singh says only the remaining forestland will be considered for declaration as a protected area.   

Welcoming the idea, a forest officer points out  that in the absence of an adequate habitat, elephants often stray from Madikeri ito Hassan and need to be chased back.