The Wildlife Society of Orissa, an environmental pressure group, has alleged that barricades for plantation projects pose a threat to movement of wildlife, especially elephants, in the State.
“To protect these large plantations sites, artificial barricades like barbed wire fence and in some cases even stone rubble walls are being proposed which are a big impediment to free movement of wild animals,” said Biswajit Mohanty, WSO secretary, drawing attention of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. “The barbed wire fence is a continuing threat to wild animals as there is every possibility of them getting stuck or seriously injured if they run into them while being chased by predators or hunters,” Mr. Mohanty pointed out.
According to the organisation, earlier the Forest department used to set up green fences comprising bamboo and ‘Amari’ (Ipomea Carnea). “We wonder why this cannot be done now to protect plantations instead of setting up barbed wires and stone rubble walls,” said Mr. Mohanty.