Forest fires: Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary closed

The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary at Muthanga in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) is being closed from March 2 to prevent further outbreak of bushfires due to the prevailing extreme dry conditions. Trekking expeditions to Pakshipathalam and sightseeing in the Thirunelli forests also will be suspended, assistant wildlife warden Radhakrishna Lal told The Hindu. Hundreds of hectares of forest wealth in the district have been ravaged in wildfire over the last one month, especially in the Muthanga and Kurichiad range of the forests under the Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary, Chembra peak, the Chethalyam forest range and the Manikkunnu Mala hills under the South Wayanad forest division and Periya under the North Wayanad forest division. A forest outpost has been set up at Soochippara, near the Soochippara waterfalls in the Mepadi forest range, to monitor the situation. According to official data, nearly 424 hectares of forest land has been destroyed in wildfire during the last one month, including 58 hectares under the North Wayanad forest division, 250 hectares under the South Wayanad forest division and 116 hectares under the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. R. Sathynathan, divisional forest officer, Mananthavadi forest division, said the presence of dry bamboo groves had worsened the situation. A single spark is enough to destroy a vast area of forests. Nearly 100 hectares of forest land contained dried bamboo in the division, he said. The department has purchased fire control equipment costing Rs.1.20 lakh, he said.N. Badhusha, president, Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samithi, an environmental organisation, said the situation in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was highly critical, and it was similar to the drought in 2004. Movement of wild animals in search of water and fodder in the adjacent sanctuaries such as the Muthumalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu, Bandipur Tiger Reserve and the Rajiv Gandhi National Park, Nagarhole in Karnataka, has increased considerably. Though the sanctuary is the main refuge for wild animals during the summer season, the Forest Department has not taken measures to protect it. The construction of fire lines is yet to be completed in the sanctuary and the fire engine allotted for it a few years ago at a cost of Rs.20 lakh is rusting in the absence of timely maintenance, he added.

The Hindu, 2nd March  2009