BHUBANESWAR: Roads and bridges inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) were damaged in the cyclone, affecting movement of forest staff inside the 2,750 sq km core area. Besides, more than 100 trees were uprooted. There is no report of any animal being hurt.
This is the second large-scale loss to STR in four years after the 2009 Maoist attack when several protection camps and trees were destroyed.
In Phailin, 46 wooden bridges - 40 small and six big - were destroyed. "Vital bridges and roads that were helpful in the smooth movement of wildlife staff have been destroyed. We have not yet estimated the loss," regional chief conservator of forests (RCCF) Anup Naik said.
He said 13 buildings, which were used for anti-poaching drive inside the STR, have collapsed. About 75 km of roads are damaged, he added. "We started the restoration work. We are first trying to restore the roads, leading to the 84 protection camps. Some villages inside the reserve have also been cut off," said Naik.
Asked whether the destruction would affect tourist footfall, Naik said it might impact tourism. "This year till August, about 27,000 tourists, almost double the number of last year, visited the reserve. We earned a revenue of over Rs 20 lakh. From November onwards, we need to improve the condition of tourist spots inside STR to attract more tourists," a wildlife official said.
According to the 2010 census by National Tiger Conservation Authority, there are about 23 tigers in the sanctuary. The state in 2004 claimed that the reserve had 64 tigers. Their current number is not known.
He said steps were also taken to declare some more areas under Jenabil range as no-entry zones to stop research activity.
Spots like Devkund, Ramtirtha, Alkudar, Sitakund and Salabani in the reserve were promoted as eco-tourism sites.
Chilika, the largest coastal lagoon in the country, didn't record major losses in the cyclone.
authorities said since the migratory birds would come to the lagoon in the first week of November, there was no fear of losing the winged guests.
Even the 2.5 lakh resident birds escaped unhurt in the cyclone. "There is no loss to the avian species. We are yet assess the damage caused by cyclone to houses, buildings and roads," chief executive of Chilika Development Authority (CDA) Ajit Pattnaik said.
