CHAMARAJANAGAR: A female elephant was killed by a speeding truck near Maddur in the Bandipur tiger reserve in Gundlupet taluk on Tuesday night.
The truck, bearing Tamil Nadu registration plated, was heading towards Kerala and was speeding as movement of vehicles through Bandipur is restricted between 9 pm and 6 am every day. The Forest Department has seized the truck and detained the driver.
Following the incident, wildlife activists are calling for stricter curbs on movement of vehicles through the forest. Activist Joseph Hoover said, “Because of the curbs, vehicles are speeding throught the forest. It’s surprising that the truck driver could not see an elephant on the road. Stricter measures need to be taken to prevent wildlife kills, like putting up speed breakers or even extending the duration of ban on movement of vehicles from 6 pm to 6 am. Unless drastic steps are taken, speeding vehicles can pose a danger to wildlife”.
Meanwhile, a leopard which had got caught in a wire trap at Veeranapura village in Chamarajanagar taluk was rescued by the Forest Department. The rescue operation was undertaken Biligiri Tiger Reserve Director Deepa Contractor and team. The rescued leopard was later shifted to the Mysuru zoo for treatment.