Already in a dilemma over recapturing the “man-eater” tiger, the Dandeli forest division is now dogged by a whole new problem: 125 strays in its range.
Around 120 dogs caught by the Karwar City Municipal Council (CMC) have allegedly been released in the forest division, adjacent to the Dandeli Tiger Reserve, according to sources in the Forest Department, raising serious concerns about the spread of disease among the wildlife.
The director of Dandeli–Anshi Tiger Reserve, Srinivasalu, told The Hindu that the dogs had been released in the Karwar Forest Division, which forms part of the same forest range as the Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve, and is equally inhabited by tigers, leopards and other wildlife.
“The biggest threat is the spread of rabies and canine distemper,” he said and added that the Forest Department has sought a clarification from the CMC.
An environmental activist, in fact, alleges that the dogs were released within the tiger reserve.
In addition to the threat of disease spreading from these dogs, the canines are also known to kill wildlife, he said. “Last year, three chital were killed by stray dogs here and more than 40 cases of stray dog attacks on chital, sambar and other wildlife have also been reported from Karwar, Sirsi, Yellapur, Haliyal, Honnavar divisions,” he said.
Following the death of four tigers from distemper, the National Tiger Conservation Authority, in January, wrote to all Chief Wildlife Wardens of tiger-range States about the “threat to tigers from the canine distemper virus” urging them to create a “barrier” through the prophylactic immunisation of dogs.
Release into forests deniedWhile the CMC denies that the animals were released in the forest, they confirmed that 125 dogs were indeed caught “to control the dog menace in the city”.
The animals were caught from the town’s centre after complaints from schools, KSRTC bus-stops and residential areas, but they were released within municipal limits, said Mallikarjun GB, environmental engineer, CMC.
Mr. Mallikarjun said that most of the dogs had returned to their original territories. “It did not work as planned, so we are now looking to conduct an animal birth control programme.”
