Forest officials in Belgaum apprehended 18 young individuals who had illegally entered the Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary and were partying at the Vajrapoha waterfalls, where they played loud music on Sunday. Access to the waterfalls, located within the protected area, is restricted, requiring nearly a nine-kilometer trek through dense forest terrain.
Wildlife activists allege that the party on Sunday was not an isolated occurrence, citing multiple incidents since January where youths evaded forest officials to celebrate birthdays and build campfires within the forest. Videos and images of these events are being widely shared on social media platforms and WhatsApp groups.
The region is often visited by groups of elephants and boasts a healthy population of sloth bears. Trespassing into these protected areas poses risks not only to humans but also causes damage to the forest, including the threat of forest fires, and endangers wildlife. Tragically, a young person perished last year after slipping into a waterfall while attempting to evade a swarm of bees.
Local residents are questioning how numerous young individuals have been able to enter the restricted area despite the presence of anti-poaching camps and regular patrols. According to a resident, the Vajrapoha waterfalls are situated deep within the protected area, making access without permission from forest officials impossible. The fact that a significant number of people are gathering near the falls without the awareness of forest officials indicates a lack of effective forest protection measures.
As the monsoon season approaches, activists express concerns that additional adventure seekers may enter forested areas to observe seasonal waterfalls like Maan, Sada, Chikale, Chigula, and Chorla. Although most of these waterfalls are located in reserve forest areas, Vajrapoha is situated within the Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary.
Deputy Conservator of Forests S K Kallolikar admitted that trespassing to the Vajrapoha waterfalls has been increasing. He suggested that these youths may have entered the forest while guards and officials were patrolling elsewhere. “Indeed, there has been a rise in the unauthorized visits to the waterfalls. On Sunday, we detained 18 youths, and investigations are underway to determine how they gained access to the waterfalls,” he stated.
He mentioned that as a preventive measure, they would activate checkpoints within the protected areas to ensure that no further trespassing occurs.
Range forest officers from Kanakumbi and Bhimgad refute claims that youths entered their jurisdiction.
“We have anti-poaching camps and guards patrolling the area. It’s highly improbable for anyone to enter from the Bhimgad side due to the dense and hazardous trek route to the waterfalls. The youths likely gained access from another direction,” stated Bhimgad wildlife sanctuary RFO Mahesh Marennavar. He added that they would enhance surveillance near the waterfalls in the future.
