Flyover mooted to redress 'wild woes' in Bandipur

Flyovers will facilitate easy movement of vehicles and allow wild animals to roam freely. The suggestion was made on Saturday at a closed door meeting by A M Sooraj of Nagarahole Foundation of South Kodagu, who is also the member of Core Committee constituted to find permanent solution for wild elephants menace.

He also told the meeting flyovers have been constructed across canals for the convenience of wild animals. Besides, a special elephant zone on the lines of special economic zones should be developed for rehabilitation of rogue elephants. A separate helpline with toll free number could also be established for farmers to contact the authorities during the elephant raids.

Kodagu Planters Association President Cheranda Nanda Subbaiah claimed that ecotourism in Dubare Forest has not benefited the department much. The revenue generated from elephant safari goes to the chest of Jungle Lodges and Resorts Limited, he said. Environmentalist Sanjay Gubbi felt that bamboo, most preferred by elephants in the forests, must be pruned during flowering.