In first-of-its-kind, Uttarakhand builds unique bridge to help reptiles, smalls animals cross road

According to a BBC report, forest officials in India’s Uttarakhand have built a unique bridge for reptiles and other small animals to cross a busy highway in the mountainous state.

A first of its kind bridge, the 90-foot (27-metre) “Eco Bridge” is made of bamboo, jute and grass.

Nainital, a popular tourist destination has witnessed many animals being run over by speeding cars on the road leading to the spot.

Officials are now growing creepers and grass to attract animals to the bridge, the BBC reported.

“Many reptiles and other small animals have been killed by tourist vehicles on this highway,” Chander Shekhar Joshi, a forest officer in the state, told the BBC. He said officials have fixed cameras on both sides of the bridge to monitor the movement of the animals.

The newly installed bridge itself has now become a tourist attraction, with commuters stopping to take photographs. The forest department hopes that it will soon start attracting animals as well.

“This is a dense forest, and elephants, leopards, deer and bulls move in this area. Drivers can see them from some distance and slow down or stop, but they rarely do so for snakes, lizards, monitors or squirrels,” the BBC wrote quoting Indian Express newspaper.

Meanwhile, officials are hopeful that this bridge will help create awareness around smaller animals and reptiles in the area as well as help to protect them.