Plastic materials pose threat to lives of wild animals

Tirupati: Excessive use of plastic bags and their unregulated disposal is posing a grave threat to the lives of animals. The animals consume plastic bags along with leftover food, which are being thrown away on the roads and in garbage dumps. The veterinary doctors found residues of plastic and polythene material in the stomach of deer and other wild animals during post mortem. For want of food and water these deer come out of forest area, cross Alipiri bypass road and enter Vedic University, SV University, SVIMS and Ruia Hospital premises. There the animals consume plastic bags along with food affecting their digestive system and finally their lives. When contacted, Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife Management wing) T Chakrapani stated carrying plastic material inside the forest is not only hazardous to the health of wild animals but also a crime according to Forest Act. Huge quantities of plastic bags and water bottles are getting dumped in the city and the forest, especially on both sides of the step-path at Alipiri and Srivari Mettu as Tirumala and Tirupati will have a heavy influx of pilgrims round the year. Taking the threat of plastic into consideration, plastic materials have been banned in the forest area at Talakona, a tourism spot near Tirupati and even restricted cinema shootings. People are made to pay caution deposit at the counter for carrying water bottles, which were actually not allowed and have to take back the caution deposit by returning the bottles at the counter, Chakrapani explained. The mass meetings and cinema shootings are restricted here due to plastic menace, besides disturbance to wild animals, he added. Dr Thoiba Singh, veterinary doctor at SV Zoo Park, said that he had found plastic material inside the stomach of deer several times while conducting post mortem or providing medical treatment to injured deer. The indiscriminate disposal of plastic and polythene bags in Alipiri and Zoo Park bypass road stretch and at few other places causing health hazards to deer as they smell the leftover food and consume the entire plastic bag, he said. Stating that use of plastic material and speed of vehicles at Srisailam were banned when he was working there, Divisional Forest Officer Chakrapani said they have established a check-post near Papavinasanam on Tirumala hills and engaged staff specially to remove all plastic garbage from forest areas.