27 July,2021 07:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
A screengrab from a widely shared video of an elephant with her two calves (circled) in Sindhudurg district
The government's move to declare a few areas loaded with biodiversity as community reserves and give them protection seems to be paying rich dividends. While locals have spotted an elephant with her two calves in Tillari Conservation Reserve, a cattle carcass in a notified wildlife corridor in Kolhapur has confirmed the presence of big cats.
"The protection given to the forests is helping wild animals. Recently an elephant and her two calves were spotted in Tillari Conservation Reserve at Sindhudurg. The good news is that we have found another cattle kill in the recently notified Chandgad Conservation Reserve," said a forest official.
Conservation reserves are protected areas that act as buffer zones or connectors and migration corridors between national parks and wildlife sanctuaries and reserved forests.
ALSO READ
Shivaji Maharaj statue collapse: Workers of Ajit Pawar's NCP protest in Pune
Heavy rain in Maharashtra and WB as low pressure forms on east and west coasts
US woman found chained to tree in Sindhudurg forest; cops recover Aadhaar card
Pune rains: Water from Khadakwasla dam released into Mutha river
Konkan Railway arranges buses for passengers stranded for more than 15 hours
With heavy rain battering several areas of the state, the forest department has stepped up efforts to rescue animals hit by floods in Konkan, Sangli and Kolhapur.
Chief Conservator of Forest V Clement Ben said, "We have formed several teams to rescue and rehabilitate animals that are stuck in floods. Our teams have rescued pet animals too. One team rescued an over 6-foot-long crocodile." The department has also started an initiative named âOperation Gray Langur' under which about 30 animals were saved from raging floods in Panhala taluka of Kolhapur Forest Division.
Also read: Two elephants killed after being hit by goods train in Odisha
