Green Minute News
Another incident of road kill involving a Leopard but this time it is on the state highway traversing Devarayanadurga forests, Tumakuru district, Karnataka, India.
A 5-6 year old male leopard was hit by a speeding vehicle on SH-3 bordering Devarayanadurga forests on Monday morning. The severely injured leopard was found by villagers from Shettrupalya village who immediately informed the concerned forest officials.
The leopard could not be revived as it had suffered from spinal injuries with its jaw and canines broken. Local villagers informed officials that the leopard was still alive when they found it struggling on the SH between Urdigere and Koratagere.
Meanwhile, activists from Tumakuru district are proposing to submit a memorandum to district forest official for installation of speed breakers on this road. Manu, wildlife activist told Green Minute that road kills were on the rise on the state highway bordering Devarayandurga forests.
Manu added, “The road is pretty good but frequently sees speed and rash driving and with wildlife crossing this road at any time of the day, road kills of reptiles, amphibians, big cats and small mammals are very frequent and disturbing”
The 10-15 kilometer stretch of this state highway is a death knell for leopards, civet cats, snakes and other wildlife. In fact, these animals cross over from Devarayanadurga forests to the nearby hillocks and in the process, many animals are crushed under the wheels of speeding vehicles.
Further, in times of injuries to wildlife, there are no wildlife vets available in Tumakuru and they have to come either from Hassan or Bengaluru. With delays in medical attention, many animals have died, inform activists.
Two weeks back, an adult leopard died in a road kill on Tiptur highway which too has no speed breakers. Not just road kills, leopards and other wildlife are facing conflict in Devarayanadurga forests which has a leopard population of 18-20 leopards.
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