Perimeter fence around Kattery Dam blocks wildlife’s access to waterbody
A new perimeter fence around the Kattery Dam in the Nilgiris is blocking wildlife access to a vital water source. Residents and researchers warn that this could increase human-wildlife conflict and pose safety risks to animals.
Why it matters
The situation illustrates the tension between infrastructure development and wildlife conservation in human-animal interface zones.
A recently installed perimeter fence surrounding the Kattery Dam, near Ketti Palada, in the Nilgiris could force wildlife into conflict with humans, worrying local residents.
The two reservoirs that constitute the dam have stood for more than a hundred years and did not have any barriers that restricted wildlife entry. Residents said the reservoirs had become important water sources for a variety of wildlife, including gaur, sambar deer, porcupines, sloth bears and leopards that are known to frequent the area.
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