Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary is under severe threat of deforestation and poaching
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Hyderabad: The Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary is under severe threat of deforestation and poaching. According to a recent study, researchers from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment found that 16 per cent of the forest area in Papikonda has been converted to non-forest in just 13 years, between 1991 to 2014, as per the NDVI time series study.
Vikram Aditya, one of the researchers said, “Most of the deforestation has been found to be occurring in the range of 100-200 metre elevation, where most of the mammals are found. Of the 20 mammals recorded by our camera traps like barking deer, chital, sambhar, gaur, honey badger, palm civet, 18 were captured in this elevation range.”
While most of the deforestation in Papikonda has been found to be occurring in the buffer area along Godavari River and village roads, deforestation is taking place even in the core area.
The main reasons for deforestation are said to be clearing of forest for agriculture, plantations by the forest department, and also for construction of dams etc. Poaching is another major issue. Vikram said, “I have come across snares and traps set up to catch animals many times.”
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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