Karnataka orders closure of all wildlife sanctuaries in July

Karnataka Government has ordered the closure on all wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the State from June 30 to July 31 with a view to facilitate breeding of wild animals.

The Karnataka Government’s decision is expected to hit the tourists, particularly foreign ones, who had scheduled to visit the wildlife sanctuaries and the national parks in Karnataka during the period.

According to the order issued by the Forest Department, all the 25 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Karnataka including the famous Dandeli, Nagarhole and Bandipur national parks, will be temporarily closed from June 30 to July 31.

Forest resorts and travel agents, who had already made advance bookings for visit of tourists, will be forced to reschedule the trips of the visitors. Even the state-run Jungle Lodges and Resorts is finding it tough to convince guests to postpone their trips.

The closure of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries will also hit the plans of trekkers and naturalists, who were planning forays into the jungles during July.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) A K Verma told reporters that closure of wildlife habitat during breeding season has been a practice across the country. “It was not followed in Karnataka till now. We can’t afford to take the cause of endangered species lightly anymore”, he said.