<p class="title">Successful in containing raging fire last week, Bandipur Tiger Reserve is now witnessing back-to-back roadkill incidents. In less than a week’s time, a total of three roadkill cases have been registered at the park. In a fresh incident on Wednesday morning, a spotted deer calf was mowed down by a speeding vehicle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sources in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve confirmed to <span class="italic">DH</span> that the incident took place in the morning. “The incident happened near the waterbody (Bandipur Kere) close to project director’s office. A speeding vehicle heading towards Mudumalai hit the spotted deer calf that was crossing the road. We have already registered a case and taken up investigation. We have also retrieved the CCTV footage for identifying the vehicle,” said T Balachandra, Conservator of Forests and Field Director, Project Tiger, Bandipur. According to another senior official, on Tuesday a wild boar was mowed down by a speeding vehicle near the Melukamanahalli Gate outside the Tiger Reserve.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The miscreants, after hitting the boar, abandoned the vehicle and fled the spot. We have seized the vehicle and a criminal case has been registered,” the officer explained. Similarly, four days ago another spotted deer was also knocked down by a speeding vehicle within the park limits and officials are still verifying the CCTV footage to identify the vehicle. </p>.<p class="bodytext">These roadkill incidents have yet again highlighted the importance of stringent regulation of traffic at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a petition (filed by Kerala) pertaining to revoking night traffic ban through Bandipur.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Karnataka has strongly opposed the Kerala government’s move and apprised the apex court multiple times about the impact of traffic on the wildlife at Bandipur.</p>
<p class="title">Successful in containing raging fire last week, Bandipur Tiger Reserve is now witnessing back-to-back roadkill incidents. In less than a week’s time, a total of three roadkill cases have been registered at the park. In a fresh incident on Wednesday morning, a spotted deer calf was mowed down by a speeding vehicle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Sources in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve confirmed to <span class="italic">DH</span> that the incident took place in the morning. “The incident happened near the waterbody (Bandipur Kere) close to project director’s office. A speeding vehicle heading towards Mudumalai hit the spotted deer calf that was crossing the road. We have already registered a case and taken up investigation. We have also retrieved the CCTV footage for identifying the vehicle,” said T Balachandra, Conservator of Forests and Field Director, Project Tiger, Bandipur. According to another senior official, on Tuesday a wild boar was mowed down by a speeding vehicle near the Melukamanahalli Gate outside the Tiger Reserve.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The miscreants, after hitting the boar, abandoned the vehicle and fled the spot. We have seized the vehicle and a criminal case has been registered,” the officer explained. Similarly, four days ago another spotted deer was also knocked down by a speeding vehicle within the park limits and officials are still verifying the CCTV footage to identify the vehicle. </p>.<p class="bodytext">These roadkill incidents have yet again highlighted the importance of stringent regulation of traffic at a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a petition (filed by Kerala) pertaining to revoking night traffic ban through Bandipur.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Karnataka has strongly opposed the Kerala government’s move and apprised the apex court multiple times about the impact of traffic on the wildlife at Bandipur.</p>
