After taking a heavy toll on human life, the Corona virus has infected Asiatic lions, whose deaths have been reported by the Central Government. The Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change on Friday issued an advisory ordering all sanctuaries, national parks and other protected areas to be shut with immediate effect and till further orders.
Karnataka Forest Department officials said that they had already closed all protected areas for 15 days since the State Government announced Corona Curfew. Taking it forward, an advisory will be sent to all divisions to completely stop people from venturing into forests to stop any transmission of the virus to wildlife as rural areas in the state too have been witnessing a rise in cases, they added.
Sanjay Mohan, PCCF and Head of Forest Force, told The New Indian Express, “In Karnataka, already all safari and tourism activities in protected areas, including Bandipur, Nagarhole, Bhadra, BRT and others, had been stopped when the weekend curfew was announced. We were continuing with these activities during weekdays, but those too were stopped after Corona Curfew was announced.
We had received a similar Covid advisory last year, and it will be put in place again with more measures.” He said, “We have already directed the field staff to be extra vigilant, observe animals for any weakness and take strict anti-poaching measures as during last year’s lockdown, poaching and hunting activities had increased on the Karnataka- Tamil Nadu border.
Covid spreads to wildlife, all sanctuaries in Karnataka shut - The New Indian Express
Karnataka Forest Department officials said that they had already closed all protected areas for 15 days since the State Government announced Corona Curfew. Taking it forward, an advisory will be sent to all divisions to completely stop people from venturing into forests to stop any transmission of the virus to wildlife as rural areas in the state too have been witnessing a rise in cases, they added.
Sanjay Mohan, PCCF and Head of Forest Force, told The New Indian Express, “In Karnataka, already all safari and tourism activities in protected areas, including Bandipur, Nagarhole, Bhadra, BRT and others, had been stopped when the weekend curfew was announced. We were continuing with these activities during weekdays, but those too were stopped after Corona Curfew was announced.
We had received a similar Covid advisory last year, and it will be put in place again with more measures.” He said, “We have already directed the field staff to be extra vigilant, observe animals for any weakness and take strict anti-poaching measures as during last year’s lockdown, poaching and hunting activities had increased on the Karnataka- Tamil Nadu border.
Covid spreads to wildlife, all sanctuaries in Karnataka shut - The New Indian Express