Ecotourism centres to remain closed due to forest fire threat

INDIA – The Muthanga and Tholpetty ecotourism centres, under the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS), will remain closed to tourists from February 15 to April 15.

This is to avert calamity due to possible outbreak of bushfire. Extreme dry conditions are prevalent in the region.

WWS Warden N.T. Sajan said on Tuesday that forest fire incidences were very low in the sanctuary last year owing to the timely precautionary measures adopted by the sanctuary officials to keep the fire at bay.

“The department has taken all possible steps to prevent forest fire. But the dry spell in the region and dried bamboo clusters are posing a serious threat to wildlife,” he added.

The sanctuary is a refuge to the wildlife in the nearby forest areas during the summer due to the availability of fodder and water.

Migration from nearby tiger reserves such as the Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) National Park and Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu to the sanctuary has increased considerably, because of forest fire threat and the dry spell in those regions, Mr. Sajan said.