Shivamogga, Jan 28: Following the outbreak of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) or monkey fever, the Jog Management Authority has issued an advisory to tourists not to venture into nearby forests or feed monkeys.
The outbreak has also had an impact on tourism in the area. Jog Falls and Sigandur temple which attracts thousands of devotees and tourists from across the state has not seen too many tourists of late.
Authorities have put up a banner at Jog Falls urging visitors not to venture into the wooded areas in the vicinity. “We put up the banner in front of Jog Falls,” informed an officer from Jog authority. Tourists have also been directed not to feed monkeys which are common in the area. “We don’t want tourists coming in contact with the monkeys in any way,” he added.
Residents of Kargal and traders from Jog say that ever since the outbreak of KFD in December there has been panic in parts of Sagar taluk in Shivamogga district. According to Karnataka State Tourism Department Corporation (KSTDC) authorities, their bookings for Jog has come down by 10% compared to corresponding months in the previous years.
“According to our estimation, tourist flow has come down by half. Even on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, Jog Falls has not seen any footfall to write about. There is hardly any business. Generally in December and January, students visit the falls in large numbers as part of Karnataka Darshan tourism. This year though the falls is in full flow because of good monsoon there are no tourists,” rued Birappa Nayak, a local trader.
Birappa says Jog sees two tourist seasons. “In December and January tourists who visit the falls are students and outsiders who are on year-end holidays. But with the KFD scare we have hardly seen any tourist,” he said.
Shrinivas Sehetty, a local tour operator, says that his business too has been affected. “I hardly had any bookings. There is no demand for anything. The local economy has been hit,” he says. Shrinivas says he hasn’t seen even foreigners around.
The Sigandur Choudeshwari temple, a popular temple in Sagar taluk is also feeling the after effects of KFD. Ravi, a managing trustee of the temple, said that the tw0-day car festival on January 14 and 15 saw a very poor turnout. “This time even the locals skipped the festival,” he revealed.
Every year, in the month of January the tourist flow comes down. This year also same is repeating, said Hanuma Naik, assistant director, tourism department Shivamogga.
Two suspected cases in Uttara Kannada village
Two persons are suspected to have succumbed to KFD in Uttara Kannada district in the last two days. The deaths have been reported from Honnavar, Siddapur taluks and areas surrounding Banavasi.
Dogs are bringing the carcass of monkeys from forest into villages. District minister R V Deshpande has said that necessary precautions have been taken to contain KFD in Uttara Kannada. “Blood samples of suspected cases have been sent to laboratories in Pune and Manipal for tests. The health department is vaccinating people living in 5km radius of places where the monkeys have died,” he said.
“There is no need to panic as labs are yet to confirm that the death of two persons in Balagod is because of KFD,” the DHO added.
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