Major ecotourism centres in Wayanad is all set to reopen after a two-month break, thanks to summer showers in the forest areas of the district.
The ecotourism centres were closed in view of the risk of forest fire and man-animal conflict due to the drought conditions.
The Muthanga and Tholpetty ecotourism centres in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary will be reopened on April 16 and the Chembra peak in the South Wayanad Forest Division by the end of April, forest officials said.
Waterfalls
The Sentinel Rock waterfalls, near Meppadi, a major attraction in the South Wayanad Forest Division, reopened three days ago.
The ecotourism centres under the sanctuary have been closed for tourists since February 15 owing to the dry weather and the annual migration of wild animals from the adjacent Nagarahole and Bandipur national parks in Karnataka and the Mudumalai tiger reserve in Tamil Nadu. The centres under the South Wayanad Forest Division too have been closed since February middle after a forest fire ravaged a large tract of grassland on the Camel Hump Mountain ranges.
Most parts of the sanctuary received good summer rain, ensuring availability of fodder for migrating animals, said N.T. Sajan, warden of the sanctuary. The rain also lessened the chances for forest fire, Mr. Sajan said.
Though large tracts of forest have been destroyed in forest fire in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, no major fire has been reported from the forest areas of the district this season, thanks to the timely measures adopted by the sanctuary officials.
Summer is the best time to visit the sanctuary as it offers a safe haven for elephants, wild buffaloes, and deer from the adjacent sanctuaries during the period. The government has directed the sanctuary officials to give a briefing to tourists on what should and what should not be done while trekking in the sanctuary.
