New Delhi: The wildfire in California’s Los Angeles in the United States has resulted in widespread destruction of property and loss of lives, including burning down the homes of the celebrities. It has sparked memories of wildfires of the past, and not just of those in the US or other foreign countries but also of the forest fires in India as well. In this article, we will take at the Bandipur forest fires which occured in 2019 and remains one of the biggest wildfires in India.
When Bandipur was ravaged by destructive wildfire
The Bandipur National Park is a famous wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka which is a haven for different kinds of animals and plants. And on February 21, 2019, the inhabitants of the park witnessed a nightmare when a wildfire broke out in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Wildfire had taken place there earlier also, but this time, it flared up because of sudden climatic change and rapid growth of dry grass and Lantana. According to officials, larger mammals like tiger, leopard, elephants and bison mostly remained unscathed.
The wildfire destroyed more than 10,000 acres of forest in Bandipur and because of the winds, the fire spread rapidly which forced the authorities to close the Gundlupet-Ooty National highway and the Bandipur National Park safaris were also cancelled. Due to the close winds, it became difficult for firefighters and forest staff to douse the fire.
The fire destroyed Kundakere Range and spread to Guddakere and Barakatte. Later, it spread to the Himavathi Gopalaswamy Hills and also destroyed forests in Gowri Kalu and Jarkal Kere hills. The fire also spread to Tamil Nadu’s Mudumalai National Park and damaged 40 acres of land.
The casualties of the wildfire
The casualties of the wildfire was not definitely ascertained. But the wildlife officials said that while larger mammals like tigers and leopards would have fled from the fire, small animals and reptiles which are slow-moving would have borne the brunt.
The measures of Bandipur to prevent wildfires
The Bandipur Tiger Reserve is taking crucial steps to prevent forest fires during the oncoming summer season. A fireline of 2,912 kilometer is being constructed to protect the reserve and its wildlife from potential fire hazards. The fireline will protect important areas in the reserve including sensitive zones, tiger roads, and the National Highway which goes through the forest. In 13 sectors of Bandipur, fireline work is already underway and they will help prevent fires from spreading within the reserve.
The 2019 Bandipur National Park wildfire in Karnataka, India, ravaged over 10,000 acres of forest. Fueled by climate change and dry vegetation, the blaze spread rapidly, forcing highway closures and safari cancellations. While larger animals escaped, smaller creatures likely suffered significant losses. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
