Elevated walkways to overcome human-animal conflict in Tirumala, says PCCF Madhusudhan Reddy

TIRUMALA: “The intention of both the State Government and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is to make the walkway routes enroute Tirumala as safe zones for pedestrian pilgrims and at the same time protecting the interest of wildlife,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF)-Wildlife and Chief Wildlife Warden Y Madhusudhan Reddy.

Speaking to media persons at Annamayya Bhavan in Tirumala on Tuesday, Madhusudhan Reddy said that he had discussed at length with TTD executive officer (EO) AV Dharma Reddy about the short term and long term plans to overcome the Human-Animal conflict in the Tirumala walkway routes and ghat roads. After the leopard attack on Lakshita, a six-year-old girl, both the forest department and TTD had spruced up the measures along the walkway routes and especially on the Alipiri walkway route to a great extent, he said.

"We have placed as many as 20 hi-fi real time cameras and another 300 camera traps all along the Seventh mile and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and caught hold of five leopards and shifted them to Sri Venkateswara (SV) Zoo Park in Tirupati,” Madhusudhan Reddy said. The PCCF also said that they were also procuring as many as 500 advanced sim-based real-time camera traps. Due to several food establishments along the Alipiri walkway route, animals including deer, wild pigs, and dogs were coming for these food wastes which in turn prompted the wild cats and other beasts like the sloth bear, he added.

Madhusudhan Reddy said that restrictions were imposed on eateries. Joint measures like sending the pilgrims in a troupe of 100 with security guards, allowing children to walk along walkways only until 2 pm, movement of two wheelers along ghat roads from 6am to 6pm would continue till things turn to normalcy, he said. “As a long term measure "Elevated Walkways" are suggested. The Seshachalam Ranges are a treasure house of flora and fauna and rich scenic beauty. These walkways not only enable the pedestrian walkers to experience the natural beauties but also provide free passage to wildlife without obstructing their natural movements", the PCCF said.