KOZHIKODE: With the human-animal conflict on rise, wildlife enthusiasts have batted for setting up a wildlife caring enclosure in Wayanad where the animals can be detained in an area in their own habitat instead of shifting them to artificial zoos. It may be recalled that the shifting of Kallur Komban, a truant elephant from Wayanad, to Parambikulam had triggered a row recently with wildlife activists protesting against the transporting after administering tranquilisers. Farmers in Parambikulam had also staged widespread protests. During the last five years alone, more than ten tigers were trapped and shifted from Wayanad of which four died later.
Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithy president N. Badusha told DC that the forest department should come up with such an idea to retain the aged, unhealthy and problem animals in Wayanad itself so that they could be saved. “Many of the animals shifted to other geographical regions were killed in a short period of time,” he added. “It would also save the forest department from much trouble as the animals could be treated in an animal-friendly space,” Mr Badusha added.
Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) project officer S. Guruvayoorappan said that in Wayanad, semi-wild areas with low bio-density are available in abundance where such enclosures could be developed. “Bennarghetta National Park in Bengaluru is a model that could be replicated,” he said . However, the forest department is sceptical about the project citing that, besides being costly, it would increase the possibility of spreading diseases. “Each animal needs separate enclosures and the fencing, trenches, stone pitching and veterinary facilities altogether were estimated at about Rs 200 crore,” said Wayanad wildlife warden P. Dhanesh Kumar. “There were reports that unhealthy animals living in such enclosures are more prone to diseases than other free animals in the jungle,” he added.
