Chikkamagaluru: After the Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks, the Bhadra National Park, a tiger reserve, will be closed to tourists from 6 pm to 6 am with effect from Friday for the the safety of wild animals crossing the 14-km road that runs through it from Veerupakshakhan to Kemmangundi, a hill station.
The night traffic ban has been enforced on the orders of Chikkamagaluru Deputy Commissioner, Sreerangaiah, who acted on the advice of the director of Bhadra
Tiger Reserve, Kantharaju that it was essential for the welfare of the wildlife. It will apply only to tourists and not to locals, who need to get home or to their fields and estates via Veerupakshakhan and Kemmanugundi, the DC explained, speaking to the Deccan Chronicle .
“Tourists on the road are a nuisance for wild animals , killing many of them in hit-and-run accidents,” he noted. The decision has also been taken on a report by Superintendent of Police, K. Annamalai, who pointed out that if a tourist vehicle got stranded inside the park due to a technical snag late at night it would have a hard time getting help.
Recalling that a gang of 14 poachers was caught red-handed with the carcass of a Sambar on New Year eve last year, forest officers say the traffic ban has existed unofficially since, but has been made official now.
“If there are any complaints against the traffic ban through Bhadra Tiger Reserve, we will try to address them,” Mr Kantharaju assured.
