NH-13 a death trap for bears - Economic Times

HUBLI: Reckless driving and failure of authorities to put cautionary signs between Kunapalli and Hosur Cross on the Bijapur-Solapur road are endangering bears of a surrounding forest area. In the past two months, four bears have been mowed down by speeding vehicles on the national highway.

The forest area in Jabalgudda, Indargi, Hiresullikeri, Metagalla, Hosagall, Hosagalla and Hosaballary is bear country. The animals have to cross NH-13 to reach adjacent fields in search of food.

Speaking to TOI, Andappa Kuri, Munirabad zonal forest officer, said there is a huge population of bears in the forest area between Jambalgudda and Karehalli. "A lack of speed limit has turned National Highway 13 into a death trap for animals, particularly bears."

"We have urged the NHA to put more boards along the national highway starting from the Gangavati forest area to the deer habitat. We plan to display huge boards featuring portraits of bears and messages to educate vehicle drivers about the need to restrict their speed to protect bears," he said. Shivashankar Murthy, divisional forest officer, Koppal, said: "Bears crossing the road to eat fruits, vegetables and maize in the fields are hit by speeding vehicles on the highway."

Food scarcity is forcing the bears to move to other areas in search of food. "We plan to grow fruits and other crops inside the forest area to prevent migration of bears." "When we requested the NHAI, they constructed humps on NH-13. We will now request them to construct humps near the forest area to control the speed of vehicles," Murthy said.

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