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Proposed Alternative Route to NH766 tops in wildlife road kills
Why in news?
- A recent study has found that roadkills on the proposed route “Mananthavady-Gonikoppal Mysuru highway” is highest in the country.
More in news
- Recently SC had asked to study the possibilities of developing an alternate route to Kozhikode-Kollegal NH766.
- The proposed route passes through Tholpetty forest range of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a major tiger habitat.
- Data on Roadkills as per the study
(1) The eight month long study recorded 2,426 roadkills during the period, including amphibians(2,213), reptiles(153) and mammals(57).
(2) Three birdkills were also recorded.
(3) The 2,426 kills belonged 42 species belonging to eight species of amphibians, 19 species of reptiles, two species of birds, and 13 species of mammals
(4) Highest number of roadkills was recorded in september.
- Similarly a five month study on NH37, adjacent to Kaziranga National Park in Assam, few years ago recorded 68 roadkill cases.
- A six month studyon the state highways passing through th Nilgiri North Territorial Forest Division and Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in tamil nadu in 2013 reported 176 roadkills of 30 species
- It is suspected that the major reason for the road kills on the alternative route is the unrestricted vehicle movements, especially during night hours, after which night traffic ban was introduced on NH766.
- NH766 is a crucial highway that connects Kerala and Karnataka, especially the wayanad district in Kerala and Mysuru in Karnataka, which passes through the Bandipur Tiger Reserve
Sources
The Hindu