Threat to wildlife: Towns near city releasing stray dogs into forest

BENGALURU: What do town municipalities around Bengaluru do to control the population of street dogs? If we believe that they are implementing the animal birth control programme, we could not be farther from the truth.
If a letter shot off by the Forest Department to its officers is any evidence, stray dogs are being transported to forests and abandoned by civic authorities.

The letter dated April 5, 2016, written by the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) BJ Hosmath to the conservators of forests in Bengaluru and Mysuru circle and deputy conservator of forests in Bengaluru Rural, Kolar, Mandya and Chickaballapura, instructs the officers to warn civic authorities in their respective areas to stop the practice of abandoning stray dogs in reserved forests and wildlife reserves. He threatened action against the municipalities if this continues.

The inhuman practice came to light after Srinivas L, a Vasanth Nagar resident, noticed strays being abandoned in forests around Bengaluru rural and alerted the forest authorities.

Hosmath confirmed to ET that the Forest Department has warned the BBMP as well.

“We are keeping a close watch on the BBMP and monitoring the Bannergatta National Park to check if any stray dogs were left there. We have also directed all deputy chief conservators of forest to tighten the entry points.“

The letter details the various laws that the civic authorities are violating. Some of them are the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Animal Birth Control (Dogs) rules.

It also says how the illegal practice is a serious threat to wildlife and that it would affect the lives of both the animals in the forest as well as the abandoned dogs.

BBMP's joint director (animal husbandry) Dr Maheshwara Gowda said he had not received any communication from the Forest Department.

Bengaluru Urban Honorary Wildlife Warden Sharath R Babu estimates that nearly 2,000 dogs have been released into the Kaveri Wildlife Sanctuary near Muthathi, less than 100 km from Bengaluru. “We are not sure if they are stray dogs from Bengaluru city because the culprits have not been caught redhanded.“

However, the clear proof of a civic authority releasing stray dogs came from Gudibande town, less than 100 km from Bengaluru. The Town Municipal Corporation's Chief Officer, on March 14, called for a quotation, offering `200 for every stray dog caught in the town. The Forest Department registered a case and the police filed an FIR against the officer after they seized a truckload of dogs that were about to be released into the forest on March 19.

Praveen Bhargav, managing trustee of Wildlife First, said: “Releasing stray dogs into a reserve forest or a wildlife reserve poses a potential threat to wild animals due to spread of disease. It could chase a wild carnivore from its kill or prevent them from hunting their natural prey . The violators can be punished with imprisonment up to three years and fine of up to `10,000.“