Roads & rail tracks pose threat to R’bore big cats

Jaipur: A recent photograph of a rattled tiger cub hurriedly crossing a busy road on the fringes of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) has turned the spotlight on the safety of big cats in the sanctuary.
At a time when the state forest department is building a tunnel in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) and planning to construct an elevated road through Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR), the threat of road and rail networks in Ranthambore National Park (RNP), which has the highest tiger density, is being ignored. Sources said the RNP administration has written to the railways and NHAI to construct more safe passages for wild animals where road and rail networks pass through the reserve. However, precious little has been done as roads and railway lines continue to remain a threat to wildlife.
A forest staff said, "The national highway, which passes through Khandar and Phalodi ranges, witnesses constant movement of big cats including tigress T-99 and its cubs, T-8 and its cubs and T-58. There are eight underpasses on the nearly 42km stretch, but it's not sufficient. Two years ago, the issue was raised by the chief wildlife warden at a meeting chaired by chief minister, but till date no project has seen the light of the day."
Official sources said the state forest department should build an underground tunnel for tourists visiting the fort inside the tiger reserve.
"A dedicated underpass for vehicles till the fort could be a potential solution to keep the tiger habitat safe and disturbance-free. At present, the route sees the movement of more than 10 tigers including T-107 with cubs, T-124, T-125, T-120, T-121 and T-102. Recently, when tigress T-107 gave birth in a cave near the road, a huge forest machinery was deployed to prevent pilgrims and tourists from stopping in the area. If an underground passage is constructed, the forest machinery, which is now utilised to manage people, can concentrate on tiger protection," said a source.
Not only road network, Sawai Madhopur and Kota railway lines passing through the reserve periphery have become another death trap for animals. In a letter dated May 9, Ranthambore Tiger Project fiedl director Sedu Ram asked divisional railway manager of West Central Railway in Kota to build a fence or construct an underpass at points where movement of wild animals is frequent. In the past two years, a sloth bear and two leopards, which are protected under Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, were run over by trains.