SamadKottur, wildlife activist and researcher, S.K. Arun, surgeon and district wildlife warden, have urged Ramanath Rai, Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology, to initiate steps to protect and conserve rare species of birds and wildlife in Ballari and Koppal districts.
Mr. SamadKottur, through a power-point presentation, at a meeting convened by the Minister to review the progress of work on jungle lodges at Kamalapur on Friday, explained in detail about the rare birds and a variety of wildlife species spotted in these two districts.
He said that these species were on the verge of extinction for want of appropriate measures to protect and conserve them.
Great Indian Bustards
Submitting a report of his research on this, he said that the Great Indian Bustards, whose number at the national level had been put at around 150, were spotted in a few pockets of Sirguppa taluk of Ballari district.
He underlined the need to take appropriate measures to conserve them by appointing watchers to prevent poaching of these birds.
He also drew the attention of the Minister to the proposal made to declare Ankasamudra in HagariBommanahalli taluk of the district as a bird sanctuary, as it has emerged as a home for several migratory bird species. Similarly, he wanted the Minister to declare the forest areas in Gangavathi taluk having leopards, sloth bears, pangolins and other rare varieties and areas in Yelburga taluk that hosted blackbuck and wolves as protected areas.
In reply, Mr. Rai promised to take up the issue during the next State Wildlife Board meeting.
Principal Chief Conservators of Forests R.S. Suresh and B.J. Hosmath, Chief Conservator of Forest, Ballari Circle, Gokul and Deputy Conservator of Forest BallariTakat Singh Ranawat were present.
