Animals have first
right to cross the road!
It is not only human being caught
into different road accidents, animals too lose their lives in number of fatal
road accident around jungle areas.
The only difference between two is we
have bunches of traffic police men, administrative officers and government to
take responsibility of accidents and also to save our lives but nobody is there
to be concerned for the animals killed by speeding vehicles. We have words and
intelligence to raise voice for our safety concern but animals do not have
words except being cruel and attack on human in-front of it. Hundreds of
government authorities and department are there to make provisions for avoiding
such road accidents with the help of technologies and engineers but who is
there to take the responsibility of wild animals that are being brutally killed
in road mishaps. Although Madhya Pradesh has proud of its rare wildlife species
but the fact that many animals have been becoming victims of road accidents at
National Parks, Sanctuaries and Tiger Reserves of the state has become major topic
for discussion among wildlife lovers.
According to data given by MP forest
department in an RTI application, there has been a
sharp rise in the number of fatal road accidents of wildlife. More than dozens
of animals are being victim of road accidents every year at different national
parks and sanctuaries but ironically no one is there to be concern for the
issue. Even forest officials have not accurate data regarding the death cases
of animals. When i asked about the details of animals killed in road accident,
forest department accepted the fact that they do not have accurate data.
According to data given by forest
department, in the last 6 years, 15 animals have killed in a road accident at
various national parks of the state. However the department has claimed for
death case of 15 animals but on other hand they also accepted that the number
might be more than the record. They said that accident cases are being reported
by field workers and sometime they forget or do not get time to update the
death report on official website due to which they do not have accurate data.
But death cases of 15 animals are confirmed and have been recorded at the
department. In response to RTI application, forest department informed that
four animals including 2 leopard (Tilakdhar), Cheetal (PWD Road) and langoor
(monkey) were killed in a road accident at Satpura, Sanjay national park and
Bandhavgarh in the year 2012. In the year 2011, two animals including bear (RF
243) and wild pig (193) were killed at Sanjay National Park. In the year 2010,
three animals including fox, langoor and Hyena (RF 193) were killed in road
accident at Satpura and Sanjay National Park while a three Cheetal (PWD Road)
and a python was killed in the year 2009 and 2008 at Satpura range. Besides in
the year 2013, a Cheetal and leopard was brutally being killed by speeding vehicle
respectively at Bandhavgarh National Park and Mandla district. The leopard that
was recently killed by speeding vehicle at Mandla district was a 6 month old
cub and it was trying to cross the road but meanwhile vehicle hit that. The cub received serious injury in its head
and died on the spot. While talking about the issue of road mishap of wild
animals, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) PK Shukla said that it
happens naturally and we cannot blame particular one for this. He also informed
about the legal provision and said that district forest officer of the area
immediately make punchnama and take matter to the court. Drivers of the vehicle
also get punishment including jail terms and cash penalty after proving his
offence into court. Forest department register the case of hunting against the
driver as well. “Neither we can remove the roads nor can we stop animals from
moving into their zone,” said shukla. He further added that forest department
has put some sign boards at the road side so that people would be aware of
presence of animals in the area. The sign board also suggested the passers to
control the speed of their vehicle and be cautious. But for all these things,
general people have to be aware and everyone should take responsibility.
Although on one side, MP forest
department is eagerly waiting for Asiatic lion to boost up the tourism and
enhance the wild beauty of its parks and sanctuaries but one other side number
of unnatural death cases among wildlife have raise question over the management
of forest department.
* A Cheetal and Leopard was brutally
killed by speeding vehicle respectively at Bandhavgarh National Park and Mandla
district in the year 2013.
* Four animals including 2 leopards,
Cheetal and Langoor (monkey) were being killed in road accident at Satpura,
Sanjay National Park, Bandhavgarh and Kunopal Pur in the year 2012.
* Two animals including bear and wild
pig were killed at Sanjay National Park in the year 2011.
* Three animals including fox,
languor (monkey) and Hyena were killed in road accident at Satpura and Sanjay
National Park in the year 2010.
* Three Cheetal and a python were
killed in the year 2009 and 2008 at Satpura range.
In the year 2012, 13 wild cats were
killed in the state including six unnatural deaths while in the year 2013 (in
last 6 months) six wild cats have been killed unnaturally in Madhya Pradesh. In
the last 6 years, 14 animals have been brutally killed by speeding vehicle
nearby forest areas of the state.
