With the roaring row of superbikes tearing the tranquillity of the forest and triggering aggression among wild animals, forest officials of Vazhachal have clamped down on noisy vehicles.
It’s a strict ‘no’ for vehicles fitted with noisy and altered silencers along the forest routes of Vazhachal. Such vehicles are send back at the forest check-post at Vazhachal. Hoardings announcing restrictions on such vehicles have been displayed along the forest routes.
Groups of fun riders, numbering between 20 and 60, come like a storm, revving up their engines along the forest road. The sound generated by these powerful motorcycles, some with altered exhaust pipes that make thundering noises, causes disquiet in animals, especially elephants, said N. Rajesh, Divisional Forest Officer, Vazhachal.
The decision to impose restrictions on such vehicles was taken after field observations suggested increasing instances of elephants attacking vehicles and incidents of roadkills. Since the imposition of the restriction, field reports showed a drop in the aggressive behaviour of animals, he reasoned.
The forest road that runs through Athirappilly, a popular ecotourism spot, Vazhachal, Malakkappara, and beyond is one of the favourite routes of bikers. The possibility of riding through the serene forest terrains and encountering wild animals makes it one of the preferred routes.
Elephant crossings
There are at least five to 10 elephant-crossing points along the forest route between Vazhachal and Anakkayam. The possibility of encountering the elephants along the route is very high and any disturbance to the tranquillity of the area could trigger panic and aggression in animals, said Mr. Rajesh.
Travel freaks widely promote the trips through social media, he said.
Vinu Pathrose, an avid biker and the founder director of the Spice Coast chapter of Harley Owners’ Group, said a section of the bikers resort to such unsound practices. Mostly, bikers use stock motorcycles, which are showroom condition vehicles that comply with all specifications and rules. However, some tend to alter the silencer of the vehicles to generate loud noises, which are harmful to the riders as well as the vehicle. Such practices should be discouraged, said Mr. Pathrose.
