TUMKUR: Thimmalapura State Reserve Forest, falling under Madhugiri and Koratagere region, is likely to get the status of Sloth Bear Sanctuary. The State Wild Life Board, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has reportedly given in-principle approval in this regard.
The board has also constituted a seven-member committee headed by additional chief secretary to Forest, Ecology and Environment Department to study and examine the proposal of the Tumkur Forest Department before giving the final nod.
The forest is mentioned in British archeologist Benjamin Lewis Rice’s Gazetteer of Mysore as one of the ancient forests, then known as Maddagiri State Forest. The British, who loved hunting, used to frequent the Inspection Bungalow here, according to sources.
As per the proposal submitted to the government, which also consists the findings of the Wildlife Awareness Nature Club (WANC), the forest is spread across 3,047.07 hectares.
According to the 2002 WANC census, the area is inhabited by more than 164 bears and the number may have increased by now. The bear-human conflict in the area is next only to Bellary’s Daroji Bear Sanctuary, T V N Murthy, honorary wild life warden of Tumkur, claimed. The bears can be sighted in the area especially early in the morning and in the evening.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Amarnath said a proposal was sent to the government, but no official information has been conveyed in this regard.