Fear Of Human-Animal Conflict, Poaching As Animals Fleeing Simlipal Forest Fire Left Vulnerable
The Odisha government has once again stated that no life was lost in the forest blaze in Simlipal, which had been brought under control after raging for more than a week.
Simlipal is a national park and tiger reserve situated in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district. The 2,750 sq km area harbours unique melanistic tigers, rare and endemic orchids, 1,352 species of plants, 55 species of mammals, 361 species of birds, 62 species of reptiles and 21 species of amphibians.
"The fire is under control, no loss or injury to wildlife, any staff, villagers or public property has been reported," the Director General of National Tiger Conservation Authority, S.P. Yadav, told IANS.
A massive fire ripped through vast tracts of Simlipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district and other wildlife habitats nearby, raising concern among wildlife and environmental activists over its possible impact.
Though the large animals and birds may have fled to safety from the fire, there is a fear that many small animals and reptiles could have been killed in the inferno.
Another concern, environmentalists had was how the animals fleeing the fire could become vulnerable outside the forest.
In the past, animals tigers, elephants, leopards and bears fleeing the fire had entered nearby villages, resulting in human-animal conflicts.
This year, only one such incident has been reported so far.
According to a report by India Today, a spotted (barking) deer was seen in the Brundeiposi village on Monday night after it fled the fire.
Environmentalists also fear the animals like elephants and tigers could be killed by poachers outside the forest.
Meanwhile, forest officials in the district have apprehended a few traditional hunters on charge of setting fire to the national park for poaching animals.
For many, the wildfire this year is a matter of concern as the forest has dried up faster than normal, making it more vulnerable to accidental and deliberate fires.
The forest fire season in Simlipal Tiger Reserve usually starts from February and continues till May.
Simlipal comes under the Deccan Peninsular Biographic zone, Chhotangpur Province, in the Mahanadian region. The forest is a predominantly moist-mixed deciduous forest with tropical semi-evergreen patches in areas with suitable microclimatic conditions and sporadic patches of dry, deciduous forest and grassland.
