Wildlife conservationists have strongly criticised the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for granting permission to the widening of a road that falls in the buffer zone of the Nagarjuna Sagar- Srisailam Tiger Reserve and also the Ecologically Sensitive Zone of the Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary.
The NBWL gave permission for widening of the Nandyala-Atmakur road in Kurnool district from the single lane to double lane at its most recent meeting held in New Delhi.
Former honorary wildlife warden and conservationist K. Mruthumjaya Rao said the NBWL should have suggested a detour around the small piece of forest instead of widening it.
Doubling the lanes would also double the traffic, and the number of heavy vehicles would also increase, he said.
Displacement threat
“Roads create barriers to movement, impacting animal population in many ways.
“When a road runs through a forest, it creates an edge habitat along the portion of the forest that is on the fringe of the road. Roads not only fragment the habitat but also alter them, leading to displacement of some species.
“Animals with large home ranges, such as panthers, have a high chance of encountering roads,” he said. Some animals were prone to road mortality, mainly due to their natural defence mechanisms, which they required to survive in the wild.
Turtles often perceive vehicles as a threat and draw themselves into their shell, which puts them at risk of getting struck because they stay on the road longer.
Snakes might also become immobilised when approached by a car and remain so for a minute after a car passes. Venomous snakes might be less inclined to flee from a perceived threat because they typically use venom for defence.
Some bigger birds that normally fly away from predators may be unable to initiate flight quickly enough when approached by a fast-moving vehicle.
The way in which animals naturally respond to threats may increase their risk of being struck by vehicles, wildlife experts say.
“The Nagarjuna Sagar - Srisailam Tiger Reserve is home to a dazzling array of wild animals. In addition to the Bengal Tiger, which is the apex predator, many other species like leopard, rusty-spotted cat, sloth bear, wild dog, pangolin, mouse deer, Chausingha, Mugger Crocodiles, Indian Rock Python, and innumerable varieties of birds are found here.”
“It is unfortunate that decision-makers are showing complete disregard to the ecological values of these forests and the fate of many wild animals and precious natural resources hangs in the balance,” said Murthy Kantimahanti of the Eastern Ghats Wildlife Society.
Ironically, some animals are attracted to the road surface.
Mortality risk
Reptiles like snakes and turtles sometimes bask on the warm surface of the road to regulate their body temperatures. Many scavengers prey on the carcasses of animals that have been killed on the road. These kinds of behaviour increased the risk of mortality as they cause animals to spend more time around the road.
