Illegal quarrying affecting Wildlife conservation around Bandipur National Park

Chamarajanagara, Karnataka, Dec 2 (UNI) The man-animal conflict around Bandipur National Park, which is inimical to wildlife conservation, is suspected to be a fallout of illegal quarrying close to Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the national park.

There are more than 150 villages around Bandipur, but the Omkara and Hediyala ranges are among the worst-affected by conflicts as both elephants and tigers tend to stray into human habitats there, resulting in casualties.

While it is common for animals to stray out of their natural habitat looking for food and water, the people of Hasgoli village and Raghavapura village in Begur hobli in Gundlupet Taluk have introduced a new angle to it. They have alleged that the district administration has issued permission for quarrying and the movement of heavy-duty trucks and blasting were forcing animals out of the forests.