Karnataka wildlife board goes worldwide web

In a first in the country, a state wildlife board has developed and launched its website.

A brainchild of ex-cricketer Anil Kumble, who is also the vice-chairman of the board, the website of Karnataka Wildlife Board—    www.karnatakawildlifeboard.org  — was formally inaugurated on Tuesday.

The website has information on all the protected areas in the state, wildlife laws, forest staff who have shown exemplary courage in saving the wildlife, importance of every national park and wildlife sanctuary in the state and others. It also provides details about the do’s and don’ts in the protected areas, best time to visit the area, accommodation facilities, etc. 

The website hosts a forum where one can express his/her opinion, provide suggestions and start discussion groups about any national park or wildlife sanctuary in the state. This will ensure a platform to discuss various issues of any protected area in a common interest group.

  “We would like to encourage more public participation in wildlife conservation through this website,” said Kumble.

“Our vision is to save wildlife and wild lands of Karnataka through policy, science and outreach and further democratise the way protected areas are managed in the state” he added.

The website was launched by chief minister and chairman of the state board for wildlife BS Yeddyurappa and minister of forest and small scale industries CH Vijayashankar at Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday. Dr VS Acharya, minister for higher education, Kaushik Mukherjee, principal secretary (forests, ecology and environment) and members of the state wildlife board were present during the launch.

This is the first time that a state wildlife board has launched its website. Even the national board for wildlife chaired by the prime minister does have this distinction.