JAIPUR: A Mumbai-based wildlife photographer captured an accident between a leopard and a bike with two pillion riders on the Ganesh temple road, exposing problems with wildlife management and norms on vehicular movement in the core of Ranthambore National Park (RNP).
A series of pictures show the leopard, that was crossing the road, getting hit by the bike and fleeing. The leopard and three villagers, devotees riding on a bike, received minor injuries. The accident took place near Adda Balaji temple area on Saturday.
The accident took place near Adda Balaji temple area .
No ban on motorbikes
Mandir Marg passes through the forest area and connects the main entrance of RNP with the Ganesh temple situated inside the fort. The road, which runs along the core area, is open for private vehicles on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. However, there is no ban on motorbikes.
The road is open for private vehicles on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Speaking to TOI, Sridhar Sivaram, who was on a fullday safari, said, “The Ranthambhore forest authorities should regulate free movement of people on this road. If it were a tiger, the incident could have become bigger.”
TC Verma, chief conservator of forest, RNP, said, “We have already imposed restrictions on free movement of private vehicles on busy days. It was an unfortunate incident which occurred.”
The leopard and three villagers, devotees riding on a bike, received minor injuries.
'Close encounters' of pilgrims and tourists with wild animals on this road have become a regular affair. On January 21, tourists returning from Ganesh temple had a close encounter with a tiger after it jumped on a wall, where they had parked their vehicle.
A recent study by a group of experts, ‘Challenges Presented by Pilgrimage Sites and Their Impact on Ecology of Protected Areas’, pointed out that1.2 million pilgrims go to the Ganesh temple every year. So many pilgrims are able to go deep into the tiger reserve by flouting norms and easy availability of transport.