Uttrakhand:
The Uttarakhand Forest Department has built the first "Eco Bridge",
on a busy highway in Ramnagar Forest Division of Nainital district for reptiles
and other small animals to cross the road so that they would not come under the
running vehicle.
The 90-foot-tall bridge was made from bamboo, jute, and
grass. It was constructed for 2 lakh rupees within 10 days by local
contractors.
The highway is
the main route to Nainital, and especially during the tourist season, a large
number of vehicles pass through this highway.
Many animals such are Lizards, pythons, snakes, squirrels and monkeys are often found on the highway in the forest.
According to a media report, Ramnagar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Chandra Shekhar Joshi said, "Many reptiles and other small animals have been killed by tourist vehicles on this highway."
He further said, officials have fixed cameras on both
sides of the bridge to monitor the movement of the animals and the bridge will
be studied as a model by the Forest Department keeping in mind the four-camera
traps.
"It is a dense forest, and elephants, leopards, deer, and bulls move in this area. Drivers can see them from some distance and slow down or stop," he added.
The officials are now growing creepers and grass to attract animals to the bridge which has become a tourist attraction with many passing through stopping to take pictures and selfies. But the forest department hopes that it would attract the animals too soon.
Joshi said that reptiles and other small animals are an important part of the forest food chain and ecosystem. The boards are being set up to create awareness to protect reptiles and the forest staff will keep an eye on the area so that tourists do not try to use the bridge for selfies.
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