Tamil Nadu - Udhagamandalam   

Mudumalai Tiger Reserve becomes vulnerable to bush fires

Udhagamandalam: Dry conditions have become a source of concern in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) near here, according to the Field Director of the reserve Rajiv K.Srivastava.

A proposal was in the process of being sent to the Chief Wildlife Warden to temporarily close the reserve, he told The Hindu on Monday. If the proposal was approved, in all probability the reserve would be closed from the middle of March, he said and added that it would remain closed till the situation improved. Pointing out that on March 1 about eight hectares had been affected in a bush fire in the Masinagudy range, he said that subsequently three or four small fires had occurred.

To a query, Mr. Srivastava said that last year the first bush fire had occurred on February 4 and by the time the fire season ended, about 30 minor and major fires had taken place.

Out of a total area of 321 sq.km., the Masinagudy area had of late become highly vulnerable to fire.

He said that precautionary measures had been put in place. The members of the Disaster Management Brigade, forest staff, fire watchers and members of the anti-poaching squad were maintaining a round-the-clock vigil.

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Mudumalai Tiger Reserve becomes vulnerable to bush fires

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