Enhancing security to the critically endangered Indian long-billed vulture and improving facilities for tourists at Ramadevara Betta in Ramangaram district — where these birds are found — are under way.
A popular tourist destination, Ramadevara Betta, located on the outskirts of Ramanagaram town, is an eco-sensitive zone and has a vulture sanctuary.
Sightings of various birds, including vultures, at the Ramadevara Betta Vulture Sanctuary, attract birdwatchers, while enchanting greenery and a temple at a nearby hillock pulls tourists regularly. For the past several years, the place has been waiting for a proper beautification package.
“We have initiated several measures to develop Ramadevara Betta into a full-fledged tourist destination by providing the required infrastructure. However, developmental works would not affect the ecological activities in the region,” B.R. Mamatha, Deputy Commissioner of Ramanagaram, told The Hindu .
A sum of ₹50 lakh has been sanctioned for the purpose, Mangala Bhat, Assistant Director, Department of Tourism, Ramanagaram, said.
The official added that seating arrangements, lights, drinking water, security, toilets, help-desk, and other facilities would be provided.
The Forest Department has already taken up several works to conserve rainwater, improve groundwater level, increase green cover, and fence the place to protect the birds.
“We have recently developed five lakes around the sanctuary and are rejuvenating another one near the temple. We have also developed check-dams and planted hundreds of varieties of saplings,” a senior forest official said.
Ramadevera Betta is considered an ideal place for vultures. It was home to hundreds of vultures just a few decades ago. The Mysuru ‘Royal’ family had noticed nesting and breeding activities on the cliffs and notified it as a vulture sanctuary under Section 17 of the Mysore Forest Regulation on September 17, 1917. However, the final notification on declaring it a vulture sanctuary was issued only on January 30, 2012.
The population of vultures is rapidly declining in recent years. The sanctuary, spread across 856 acres, comprises Harisandra, Vaderahally, Hallimala, Kethohalli, Madapura, and Basavanapura villages.
