BENGALURU: The night traffic ban on National Highway 67 (towards Ooty) and National Highway 766 (towards Sultan Bathery, Kerala) has been a vital measure since 2009 to protect wildlife, particularly tigers, and to reduce human-wildlife conflict within the Bandipur Tiger Reserve on the border of Kerala and Karnataka. However, recent comments by Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar indicating a potential lift of the ban have sparked strong opposition from conservationists, local leaders, and wildlife advocates alike.
The ban, in place from 9 pm to 6 am, restricts vehicular movement to protect wildlife during their active nocturnal hours, significantly reducing accidents and disturbances. Though Kerala has long opposed this restriction, Karnataka maintained it due to the critical need to safeguard endangered wildlife, which rely on the forest corridor for their survival. The ban has had a proven, positive impact: cases of large animals, including tigers and elephants, being struck by vehicles have dropped drastically. Essential services, such as emergency transport and ambulances, are still permitted, balancing human needs with environmental priorities.
In his statement, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, while campaigning in Wayanad in Kerala, remarked on lifting the ban, allegedly due to Kerala’s lobbying and pressure from influential figures, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He argued that the restriction inconveniences thousands of travelers and students from Kerala who study in Karnataka. This move has been met with sharp criticism, with leaders like Mysore-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Wodeyar expressing concerns over risking Karnataka’s natural heritage for political gains.
On X, Yaduveer wrote, “Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s recent statement in Kerala to lift the night travel ban on NH 766, which passes through the natural wealth of our state, Bandipur Sanctuary, for political gains in the Wayanad by-elections, is irresponsible and condemnable. The natural beauty and ecological diversity of Bandipur is a wealth belonging to the various species of wildlife that thrive within it.”
ವಯನಾಡ್ ಉಪಚುನಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜಕೀಯ ಲಾಭಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಮ್ಮ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ಸಂಪತ್ತಾದ ಬಂಡಿಪುರ ಅಭಯಾರಣ್ಯದ ಮಧ್ಯೆ ಹಾದು ಹೋಗುವ ಎನ್ಎಚ್ 766 ರ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಪ್ರಯಾಣ ನಿಷೇಧವನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದುಹಾಕುವುದಾಗಿ ಉಪ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಡಿ.ಕೆ ಶಿವಕುಮಾರ್ ಅವರು ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ಕೇರಳದಲ್ಲಿ ನೀಡಿರುವ ಹೇಳಿಕೆಯು ಬೇಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಖಂಡನೀಯವಾಗಿದೆ.
ಬಂಡೀಪುರದ… pic.twitter.com/GPjvIwP44t
— Yaduveer Wadiyar (@yaduveerwadiyar) November 10, 2024
The Bandipur Tiger Reserve, part of the Nilgiri Biosphere, is home to several endangered and sensitive species, including tigers, elephants, and a diverse array of flora and fauna. This region is not only a natural treasure but also plays a crucial role in India’s biodiversity and ecological health. Conservationists and local leaders argue that allowing night traffic would endanger these animals, particularly as they move freely during nighttime hours, crossing roads and relying on undisturbed access to their natural habitat.
The opposition BJP emphasises that lifting the ban would increase the risk of animal fatalities, disrupt migratory patterns, and lead to heightened human-wildlife conflict. They stress that Karnataka’s wildlife and ecological wealth should not be compromised for electoral or political reasons in neighboring states. Yaduveer voiced the sentiment of many, noting, “It is not reasonable to endanger the wildlife of Karnataka for electoral gains in other states. Our government needs to protect these ecological zones without any compromise.”
Conservationists and wildlife lovers urge the government to consider the irreversible harm to Karnataka’s rich biodiversity should this decision proceed. Karnataka’s commitment to protecting Bandipur and its wildlife remains paramount, with many calling for continued support of the ban to preserve this irreplaceable ecological zone for future generations.
The night traffic ban on National Highway 212 (now NH 766) has been a lifeline for wildlife in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. This 25-kilometer stretch, restricted from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am, allows only essential government-run buses and emergency vehicles, ensuring a safe environment for animals. Conservationists worked tirelessly, including going to court, to maintain this ban, emphasizing the potential for catastrophic consequences if it were lifted.
In response to pressures to reconsider the restriction, the Central government recently confirmed it would not pursue plans to construct elevated corridors through Bandipur under the Bharatmala project. This decision was widely celebrated by wildlife activists, who had long argued that such construction would disrupt natural habitats. The National Tiger Conservation Authority also opposed the plan, citing the risk to the lives and habitat of over 100 tigers and many other species that rely on this protected area for survival.
The current night traffic ban was established in 2009 by the Karnataka High Court, following a disturbing pattern of roadkills. Between 2004 and 2007 alone, at least 215 animals were killed by vehicles along this stretch, highlighting the need for urgent action. The court order was a landmark victory for conservation, curbing vehicle movement after dark to prevent further casualties. Now, travelers use a safer 30-kilometer detour via the Hunsur-Gonikoppa-Kutta-Mananthavady Road, preserving the sanctuary’s nocturnal peace and allowing wildlife uninterrupted access to essential corridors.
Despite these protections, the Kerala government has periodically challenged the ban, pushing for its relaxation and even opposing its own forest department’s stance on the matter. In various meetings between officials from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, the issue has resurfaced, only to be met each time by strong opposition from conservationists, environmental groups, and wildlife advocates. Protests against Kerala’s insistence on easing the ban have united activists across all three states, emphasizing the critical need to uphold this restriction for the survival of the wildlife in Bandipur.
Lifting the night ban would expose hundreds of species—including endangered tigers, elephants, and other nocturnal animals—to the risk of fatal encounters with vehicles. Animals crossing the road at night are at their most vulnerable, often unseen by drivers until it’s too late. The sanctuary’s habitat extends across forest corridors that are essential for animal movement, feeding, and migration, all of which are drastically compromised by high-speed traffic. Elevated noise, vehicle lights, and pollution further disrupt the behaviour and health of the wildlife, potentially driving them away from critical habitats and leading to increased human-wildlife conflict.
Bandipur’s rich biodiversity is part of Karnataka’s natural heritage, and the ban on night traffic reflects a commitment to protecting it. Beyond the immediate danger of roadkills, the toll of unrestricted night traffic would have far-reaching ecological consequences. The lives of animals, particularly endangered and sensitive species, are inseparable from the safety of their habitat, which demands a peaceful, undisturbed environment. This ban, therefore, is not merely a restriction on human convenience but a safeguard for the continuity of life in one of India’s most cherished wildlife sanctuaries.
Comments