Every year, hundreds of wild animals are killed due to road accidents in our country. 152 wild animals died on the Coimbatore-Bengaluru highway alone, according to a recent report by The Hindu. In another report by The Indian Express, it was reported that 26 tigers have died across the country between January 2010 and January 2021 in road and rail accidents. The number of wildlife deaths continues to rise if we are to consider the country-wide numbers.
This is why Indian Forest Services officer Parveen Kaswan took to Twitter to urge people to drive carefully in forested areas. Sharing a picture of a leopard that lost its life after being hit by a speeding vehicle, he wrote, “This one lost his life on a road near a forest area. While trying to cross the road a speeding vehicle hit and ran away.”
On roads around forest, wildlife has first right of way. Please drive carefully !! pic.twitter.com/LXUm8eJNrm
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) February 27, 2022
This one lost his life on a road near a forest area.
While trying to cross the road a speeding vehicle hit & ran away.
— Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) February 28, 2022
On being heartbroken after learning about the news, fellow animal lovers urged people to avoid driving at night or at a reduced speed while passing through forested areas. Some others suggested the construction of overpasses for wild animals.
Namaskaram
Forest is for animals and birds, but today most of the forest is occupied by human,then where they live they will live in village only.we are crossing our limits and blaming the animals are crossing.Goverment have to put strict law no one should live in forest.— T.S.Radhika (@TSRadhika1) February 28, 2022
@dp_satish this was a routine affair in Bandipur before the traffic ban was imposed for night time traffic
Many such lives of tigers , leopards and other endangered wild animals have been saved due to this ban.
Pls don’t advocate to revoke this ban and endanger the animals.— Shettre (@Vishwasshettre) February 27, 2022
The amazing lush wildlife of India is so wonderful. Drive safe for all creatures please. A beautiful leopard…ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
— Rachel Romanovski (@RRRachelRRRom) February 27, 2022
Very bad. They’re the owners and we are the trespassers.
— nitin kulkarni (@nitin3371) February 27, 2022
Make underpass and over pass and rope bridges, it doesn’t cost more, 99.99% population of India don’t know what the hell wildlife awareness is, they don’t teach that in books or at home,a very few gifted mad people develop love for wildlife our of nowhere
— Subhajitwild (@subhajitreehug) February 27, 2022
Yesterday only I captured them and allow to pass safely pic.twitter.com/5Ez01x8SfQ
— Neha Mohurle (@mohurle_neha) February 28, 2022
Roads shouldn’t be allowed to drive faster than 30 KMH, let it remain non mettled road.
— Rana Singh Baagi (@RanaSin92053500) February 28, 2022
Wth are roads even allowed to pass through forests ? I think we have enough roads and alternative modes of transport. Why can’t they be removed ?
— Potatox Chipz ⚡ (@DrkCarnage1) February 27, 2022
Forests belong to animals and humans are the trespassers. It’s better if we all remember that.