The death of a leopard in a road accident near Chidiyapur-Haridwar on national highway 74 on the weekend has once again elicited focus on the deaths of wild animals caused on this stretch of the highway by speeding vehicles.
Activists point out that at least 20 leopards have died here in road accidents in the past 10 years, but the authorities concerned are not taking necessary measures to prevent this. On Saturday morning, a leopardess was found dead on the roadside at Chidiyapur and Forest department officials were informed about the discovery.
The big cat, a female, was hit by a speeding vehicle which caused her death. According to wildlife activists, traffic on this stretch of the highway regularly causes deaths of wild animals especially Schedule I species like the leopard. At least two leopards are killed here in road accidents every year apart from which a larger number of wild animals like deer, antelopes, reptiles and monkeys are also killed by traffic using this stretch of the highway which is considered to be a forest road. According to the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) Uttarakhand State in-charge Rajendra Agrawal, there is need for building speed-breakers on this stretch of the road, so as to prevent wild animals from ending up as road-kills.
Some years ago during the tenure of Srikant Chandola as the State chief wildlife warden, the Forest Department had initiated action to incorporate speed-breakers on this stretch of the road. However, after some initial official interaction between the departments concerned, the task was put on the back burner. This stretch of the road which passes through a wildlife rich forest area sustains heavy traffic as those travelling to parts of both Kumaon and Garhwal use this road. It now remains to be seen whether the authorities take necessary measures to prevent further loss to wildlife in road accidents on this road.