Dangs fire: Officials yet to assess wildlife damage

Even five days after the fire in Purna wildlife sanctuary in Dangs district, the forest department has taken no step to assess the extent of loss of wildlife.

Asked about it, divisional forest officer CK Sonwane said, “Spiders, insects, reptiles and birds might have been killed in the fire. But, since the fire broke out in the bordering area of the sanctuary, wherein wildlife inhabitance is lesser due to disturbances by local dwellers and tourists, we are sure it hasn’t affected mammals.”

He said, “The department is trying to bring some experts to assess the damage due to inferno. We are trying to bring the DFO of Sabarkanta, A Ramesh, who is an entomologist”

“Summer is not the breeding season for most of the wild animals, birds or even insects; so there is lesser possibility of much damage to eggs or newborns,” he said.

Purna sanctuary is home to several endangered and rare animals, birds, spiders, butterflies, reptiles and other insects. According to various surveys conducted by Veer Narmad South Gujarat University and Maharaja Sayajirao University, there are more than 100 species of birds, around 30 species of reptiles and 100 species of rare spiders in the Purna sanctuary.

According to a Baroda-based animal activist, Snehal Bhatt, such infernos create havoc for these rare species and the whole eco-system of forest gets damaged.