Indian gaurs spotted at Kolhapur's Ramanmala

KOLHAPUR: Joggers and morning walkers at the Ramanmala area, saw a herd of Indian gaurs early on Saturday.
Folowing the sighting of the herd, the forest department has increased the staff deployed in the city limits, including Nagala park, Jayanti nullah, and the Ramanmala areas. The staff members create smoke using red chilli powder to keep the animals away from the city limits.
Forest ranger Vijay Patil said, “The animals have taken shelter in the sugar cane farms where they rest throughout the day, relish sweet cane and then come out at night. Sugar cane is there favourite fodder and these animals tend to relocate themselves towards sugar cane farms from the forest areas once the cane cutting season starts. There is one female and one calf in the herd”.
“Our members are trying to help the herd find its way back. People should not create chaos if they come across an animal as a tiny mistake can disturb the animals which are in a group. These animals will return on their own, crossing the Panchaganga river, Vadange, Khupire, Ambewadi, Chikhali, Shingnapur villages” added Patil.
Rohan Salvi, a morning walker, said, “During my morning walk on Saturday, I came across a herd of Ibdian gaurs grazing on grass at the Powar Mala area of Ramanmala in the city. As the incident of a youth getting killed in a gaur attack at Bhuyewadi village is still fresh in people’s minds, forest department should send these animals back to the forest area immediately before any untoward incident occurs.”