Canopy bridge comes up for monkeys, tree animals in Odisha's Bonai

The Bonai Forest Division in Sundargarh has come up with an innovative idea to save small wild tree animals moving across roads passing through dense jungles. 

The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) in collaboration with Koira forest authorities has set up a special canopy bridge connecting high-rise dense trees on the either side of the road inside forest in Koira area. 

The canopy bridge aims to prevent animals especially monkeys, squirrels and other tree animals from road hits due to hundreds of trucks and other transport vehicles plying on the roads in the iron and manganese-rich mineral hotbed. 

In the first phase, two such bridges have been installed in the jungle and after studying the benefits of the structure, more canopy bridges will be built by the forest department to ensure conservation of wild animals.

"Rising interference of humans and developmental activities inside core forest areas have seriously breached the peaceful habitat of wild animals. So it is imperative to initiate innovative measures like canopy bridge to save the animals. It will give a natural feel to the animals who can reside freely," said Krushna Rout, environmentalist.

PK Rath, CGM, Rourkela Steel Plant, SAIL said the hanging bridge, which is eco-friendly, will help monkeys climb trees and cross the road from one side to the other with ease but without coming down to the road.