India’s first dedicated corridor for wild animals on India’s NH-7/44

India’s first dedicated corridor for wild animals, this cave-like underpass connects two famous wildlife parks — Kanha and Pench — and could be vital for the long-term viability of tiger populations in the central Indian landscape. Find out how! #FirstInIndia #WildIndia

Last month, the images of India’s first dedicated and functional undercross for wildlife on NH7 (44), which passes through the ecologically sensitive Kanha-Pench Corridor famous for its tigers, made waves on the internet.

Further, what took conservationists by surprise was the snapshot (caught on a trap camera) of a spotted deer being hunted by a pack of wild dogs at the Pench National Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

This debate once again reared its head when the NH-44 was expanded to four lanes, and as a consequence, a full-grown leopard and tiger were killed in vehicular traffic.

Following the Bombay High Court’s directives, the National Highways Authority of India constructed nine underpasses along NH-44, offering a safe passage for animals who no longer are expected to cross roads at risk to their lives.

These cave-like, concrete underpasses are layered with natural soil so that they resemble the natural habitat of the animals. The underpasses are fitted with CCTV cameras to monitor the movement of animals.