Roadkill on two nationwide highways close to Thuvarankurichi forest on the rise

Sporadic incidents of untamed animals getting knocked down by autos alongside the Tiruchi – Madurai and the Thuvarankurichi-Natham nationwide freeway stretches close to Thuvarankurichi has prompted the Forest Department to put in warning signboards at choose areas alongside the 2 stretches to alert street customers of “wild animals crossing the world” and to drive slowly at these spots.

The latest roadkill was reported within the late hours on Wednesday when an grownup gaur was killed in a street accident after being hit by a sports activities utility automobile on the Thuvarankurichi-Natham nationwide freeway close to Thuvarankurichi. The feminine gaur is alleged to have all of the sudden crossed the street on the time of accident. It is suspected to be from the Velamalai reserve forest located a couple of kilometres away.  Weighing almost 1.5 tonnes, the large animal was buried contained in the close by reserve forest after an post-mortem. 

This is the fifth roadkill on the 2 freeway stretches reported within the jurisdiction of the Thuvarankurichi forest vary this yr. Deaths of three wild animals have been reported on the Tiruchi-Madurai nationwide freeway and two others alongside the Thuvarankurichi-Natham freeway stretch, a Forest Department official stated. Animals which have been killed on these freeway stretches have been gaur and noticed deer.

The Thuvarankurichi forest vary in Tiruchi district has a major presence of gaur within the 11 reserve forests that are surrounded by hills.  It is believed that these reserve forests are a house to round 400 gaurs moreover noticed deer, monkeys, rock pythons, and peacocks. The reserve forests embody Thachamalai, Velamalai, Karumalai, and Periamalai. 

Gaur is discovered within the neighbouring Manapparai forest vary in Tiruchi district in addition to within the reserve forest areas within the adjoining Dindigul district. “The gaur retains transferring from Thuvarankurichi to neighbouring Dindigul district and again by way of Manapparai forest vary, particularly throughout evening in the hunt for meals and water when such roadkills happen. Portions of the Tiruchi-Madurai and Thuvarankurichi-Natham freeway fall beneath the Thuvarankurichi forest vary”, the official stated. The Forest Department has constructed water troughs within the reserve forests of Thuvarankurichi vary to quench the thirst of untamed animals and birds.

Signboards

Concerned over sporadic roadkill, the Forest Department has put in reflective warning boards at eight areas alongside the Tiruchi-Madurai nationwide freeway at Thuvarankurichi and close by spots and two boards alongside the Thuvarankurichi-Natham freeway stretch.

The boards have been put in to alert street customers concerning the “wild animals crossing space” and to “drive slowly” mentioning the velocity restrict of 40 kmph on the spots. They have been put up a couple of metres away from the freeway stretches after acquiring permission from the National Highways Authority of India.

They have been put up on each side of the highways at areas together with Lanjamedu, Thuvarankurichi, Sevanthanpatti, and V. Kaikatti, the official stated and added that street customers ought to cut back the velocity of their autos upon reaching such areas. Camera traps have been positioned close to the water troughs contained in the Thachamalai and Velamalai reserve forests to watch the motion of Gaur, the official stated.