Bandipur animals deserve better rights

Among the 166 national parks in India, the Bandipur National Park in  Karnataka stands out for its tiger population. An 85-year-old wild life sanctuary that symbolises cooperation and friendship between three States —  Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu — is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Since 2009, night traffic has been banned on the highway through which the park traverses. The 9 pm-6 am ban is meant to save the animals from ‘hit and run’ accidents. It is also aimed at protecting the human beings from possible animal attack. Repeated pleas of the Kerala Government to lift the ban was not entertained by Karnataka. Recently, the Centre discussed a plan to build flyovers at every 2 km stretch of the road and broaden the 25 km stretch between Bandipur and Wayanad, Kerala.

After initially giving its nod to the Centre's proposal, Karnataka has gone back to pledge its loyalty to the Supreme Court which is seized of the matter. Though the Centre's plan will allow the animals to move through underpassages and fences proposed to be built, the massive deforestation and the subsequent animal disturbances, including piercing the core tiger areas, may hit the sanctity and peace in Bandipur and the adjoining wild life sanctuaries. Tigers, elephants and other wild animals have the right to live, and exist peacefully, in their natural habitats — forests.