Forest routes in SV National Park closed to pilgrims, public due to movement of wild elephants

The Andhra Pradesh Forest section has strictly prohibited nationalist and pilgrim question on the wood way done Settigunta, Kukkaladoddi, Railway Kodur and Manmandur routes successful Sri Venkateswara National Park (SVNP) of Seshachalam biosphere successful presumption of the changeless question of chaotic elephants.

Speaking to the media present connected Wednesday, Annamayya District Forest Officer (DFO) R. Jagannath Singh cautioned that 3 herds of elephants, each with 15 to 17 animals, including six calves, were often crossing the Balapalli, Railway Kodur and Rajampeta wood beats.

“The latest monitoring connected these stretches led to the uncovering of caller footprints and dung deposits of the elephants, and feeding signs of the calves. The camera traps besides confirmed the beingness of calves. These conditions are highly risky for quality question owed to the unpredictable and assertive behaviour of the chaotic herds,” the DFO said.

The authoritative said that the SV National Park loop had witnessed aggregate fatal attacks successful caller years, including 4 quality casualties. It was observed that these wood routes would beryllium utilized by the pedestrian pilgrims towards Tirumala and different temples successful the forested areas.

The DFO said that Section 27 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, had been invoked astatine contiguous to prohibit introduction into the wildlife sanctuary without a valid permit. “The offence volition beryllium punishable with up to 3 years’ imprisonment oregon a ₹25,000 fine, oregon both,” Mr. Jagannath Singh said, urging pilgrims and nationalist to strictly debar the main loop to forestall human-elephant conflict.