The forest department Uttarakhand has built the first-ever reptile bridge called the Eco Bridge across the two-lane Kaladhungi-Nainital Highway. This has been aimed at helping reptiles cross the road. this bridge was built at a cost of 2 lacs over a period of 90 days using bamboo, jute and grass.
This highway which is the main route to Nainital is adjoining a forest area and is heavily dominated by tourists. The forest houses many different kinds of reptiles and animals, and the constant movement of traffic frequently crush the moving animals. The forest department believes that was the construction of the new bridge, even leopards can cross the route with ease.
Ramnagar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Chandra Shekhar Joshi said that the bridge, which will be monitored by four camera traps, will be studied as a model by the Forest Department. “This is a dense forest, and elephants, leopards, deer, and blue bulls move in this area. Drivers can see them from some distance and slow down or stop, but they rarely do so for snakes, lizards, monitors, or squirrels,” said a forest official.
The DFO said that boards were being put up to create awareness of the need to protect reptiles. Forest staff would patrol the area to ensure tourists do not try to use the bridge for selfies, he added.