MP: Enormous Blaze Erupts in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
Click to start listening
Bhopal, Dec 5 (NationPress) The Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, soon to be the second location for cheetahs in Madhya Pradesh, faced a significant fire incident on Thursday.
The fire ignited in the Ravli Kudi Circle of the forest at approximately 5:30 pm. A team of forest officials detected the blaze, which swiftly spread across a large area filled with dry grass and shrubs.
A video capturing the fire event showed several forest personnel fleeing from the flames, which expanded rapidly across the sanctuary due to strong winds.
Multiple fire brigade units hurried to the scene to extinguish the fire, and efforts were ongoing. An official mentioned that the cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
The extent of damage to the vegetation and wildlife casualties resulting from the incident will be assessed once the fire is controlled, officials indicated.
Reports suggest that the fire broke out in the prey base area within the enclosure designated for the cheetah project, raising concerns. However, Sandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
Covering an area of 368 sq km, the sanctuary is located along the northern boundary of Mandsaur and Neemuch districts and has been identified as a prime site for the cheetah initiative following Kuno National Park (KNP) in Sheopur district.
The Madhya Pradesh Wildlife Board (MPWB) previously announced that solar-powered fencing in the sanctuary has been finalized to enhance its predator-proof status. Additionally, eight quarantine bomas (enclosures) have been constructed to house the cheetahs upon their relocation here.
Soft release enclosures have also been established within the wildlife sanctuary for the cheetahs to transition after their quarantine period.
Furthermore, the sanctuary boasts a robust prey base for cheetahs, and efforts are underway to transfer 1,250 spotted deer from other wildlife sanctuaries in the state to Gandhi Sagar.
The initiative to make the sanctuary free of leopards has also commenced, with over a dozen leopards successfully captured and relocated to other sanctuaries.
