With the Point Calimere wildlife sanctuary reopening on Saturday after the restoration of the road that was damaged by Cyclone Gaja, the Forest Department is planning to introduce bus safaris in the coming weeks.
Portions of the road running to a few kilometres inside the sanctuary spread over 1,700 hectares have been set right using rubble. The road is now motorable, Wildlife Warden and District Forest Officer Naga Sathish Gidijala said. While several buildings in the surroundings suffered severe damage due to the cyclone, the flora in the sanctuary was more or less intact.
The department also did not find any animal carcasses.
Over 3,000 saplings of fruit-bearing and shady trees that were planted a year ago had also survived, Forest Range Officer of Vedaranyam Range Krishnamoorthy said.
The Forest Department expects more tourists to visit the sanctuary once the bus safari introduced. The tours will be handled by the Eco Tourism Management Committee at Kodiakarai.
Restoration work
The Forest Department is taking steps to restore one of the two guesthouses that were damaged in the cyclone, with Central funds for which the sanctuary was eligible.
The department awaits funds from the State government for repairing the living quarters of employees.