Protests against night safari at Bannerghatta to begin this week; activists say proposal will harm habitats
Protests against night safari at Bannerghatta to begin this week; activists say proposal will harm habitats
The much talked about night safari proposal at Bannerghatta, the first of its kind in India, has hit a roadblock in the shape of wildlife activists.
The activists have planned to protest against the project with an online signature campaign besides a series of demonstrations starting this week.u00a0
The Bannerghatta night safari, to be implemented on over 115 hectares at a cost of about Rs 178 crore, will affect the existing habitat of species rarely found in India, believe wildlife enthusiasts who are taking on the authorities.u00a0
"We don't want the night safari here in Bannerghatta," said Manjunath N, president, Nature and Wildlife Conservation Committee, Bannerghatta. "It will affect existing rare species here and also residents in the village around. Hence we will start our protests this week."
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The much awaited night safari, to come up on the lines of the world's first night safari at Singapore's Jurong Park, may get delayed as a result of the protests.
Proposed to be set up in the Bannerghatta reserve forest and sent for Central Zoo Authority's approval, the plan is to have the night safari in place by 2012.u00a0
But now this deadline may get delayed.
"The plan proposed for implementation by a private player is unscientific and may violate the Indian Wildlife Protection Act," added Manjunath.
The reserve forest area proposed for the night safari, besides affecting lifestyle of rare species active during nights that include shrew, night jars, wild dogs, sambhars, sewet cats and plants like drocera due to new changes like construction within its habitat that leads to over exposure to light and sound, will also affect villagers, believe enthusiasts.
"The area being an elephant corridor, will force animals like elephants into villages if their habitat is disturbed.
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We have instances when animals like leopards have been forced into villages when their habitat is disturbed," said Nalini B Gowda, another activist. "This will affect villagers, as wildlife like cheetah or an elephant entering village is a threat to their lives."u00a0
He wildlife enthusiasts plan to protest against wildlife authorities in phases. Initially, they will launch an online signature campaign to bring together wildlife enthusiasts.
The actual protests will soon follow. This includes protests at Bannerghatta National Park, Mahatama Gandhi statue and in front of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's residence.
"We will start protests this week," added Manjunath. "Wildlife enthusiasts and local residents will come together and fight for the cause."
Officials beg to differ
Officials, on the other hand, maintain that the night safari will be realised without disturbing the habitat of the existing species.u00a0
"It's not as the opponents are claiming," said BK Singh, PCCF (Principal Chief Conservator of Forests), Wildlife.
"As the corridor chosen for the project is vast, the night safari to come up will not affect species within much.
Minutes things like these will be considered before realizing the project."
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