Good news for wildlife conservation! A tigress and her cubs were recently spotted using a wildlife underpass on the NH-44 highway connecting Nagpur and Shivni. This underpass, built as part of wildlife mitigation measures, proves these efforts are working!
Highways and nature can coexist! The NH-44, constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), cuts through the Pench forest in Maharashtra. Concerned wildlife enthusiasts and even the Bombay High Court advocated for measures to ensure safe animal movement across the highway.
Enter the wildlife underpass! Working with experts from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the NHAI constructed nine underpasses along this stretch. These underpasses allow animals to safely pass under the elevated highway, minimizing conflict with traffic.
Spotting stripes! Camera traps installed by WII captured photos of the tigress and her cubs using the underpass. This exciting discovery demonstrates the effectiveness of wildlife mitigation strategies in highway construction.