Forest dept proposes Tungabhadra river bed as Otter reserve

The Forest Department has proposed declaring the 34 Km long Tungabhadra river bed a conservation reserve to protect and propagate aquatic wildlife, especially endangered smooth-coated otters.
After the proposal to turn the riverbed into a reserve received initial approval from the state wildlife board in July, the Forest Department here has prepared a draft notification to be sent to government, Deputy Conservator of Forests in Bellary Manikantan told PTI.
The state government is expected to issue a gazette notification declaring the stretch from Hole Madlapura village in Koppal to Kampli of Bellary the Tungabhadra Otter Conservation Reserve, he said.
Besides smooth-coated otters, mahseer, fresh water crocodiles, giant soft shelled turtles and smooth clawed otters are found in the river.

Explaining the need to turn the riverbed into a reserve, the draft notification stated that otters need to be protected from poachers who kill them for their fur which is used to make jackets.
He said turning this stretch into a reserve would help in better conservation of aquatic wildlife besides creating awareness about these creatures.