Some of the deer looking for food and water are crossing the national highway at night. Because of this, two deer have been killed in the past week.
Visakhapatnam: The population of deer in Kambalakonda Sanctuary, spanning approximately 1,400 hectares in Visakhapatnam, has crossed the optimum levels. With summer approaching and temperatures rising, available grass and water sources within the sanctuary are insufficient.
Moreover, some people living near the Kambalakonda Sanctuary have breached the fencing of the sanctuary to reach anthills and perform puja on occasion of the Nagulachaviti. The fencing at several other places is also weak.
A combination of these developments is forcing deer to stray out of the sanctuary in search of food at Adarshnagar and Arilova in the south, Dabbamba to the west, and P.M. Palem and Kommadi in the east. Some of the deer looking for food and water are even crossing the national highway at night. Because of this, two deer have been killed in the past week.
According to forest range officer P.V. Shastri, the department has sent proposals to repair the fencing of Kambalakonda Sanctuary, which currently houses over 3,000 deer. The deer are generally safe in uninhabited locations. But they face increased danger when they venture towards the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park and national highway crossings, such as Madhuravada, P.M. Palem, Kommadi and Adarshnagar.
With the onset of summer, the likelihood of deer venturing out through breaches in the 5–6 km long fencing of the Kambalakonda Sanctuary will increase. Proper fencing and closing breaches wherever they exist is thus a priority.
Environmentalists emphasise that the forest department must remain vigilant in protecting the deer of Kambalakonda. Simultaneously, the community must also be proactive in its efforts. People must not damage the fencing during festivals.
As the deer population in Kambalakonda Sanctuary is higher than optimal, there are also proposals to relocate some deer to the other sanctuaries. However, approval from the central government is awaited.
