The Hindu : Kerala News : Drought: water for animals in sanctuaries planned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 02, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Drought: water for animals in sanctuaries planned

By Ignatius Pereira

KOLLAM, MARCH 1. A drinking water scheme for the animals of the wildlife sanctuaries within the drought-hit Wayanad district is in the pipeline.

A formal proposal for commissioning such a scheme was submitted a fortnight ago to the State Government by the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD). On obtaining administrative sanction, the scheme will be implemented by the AHD.

The proposal was submitted on the basis of a State Government directed study conducted by the senior surgeon at the Kollam District Veterinary Centre, P. K. Jacob. The study became imperative in the wake of reports that last summer's drought had claimed the lives of several elephants, other animals and birds within the wildlife sanctuaries of Wayanad district, coming under the Nilgiri biosphere.

This summer itself

Talking to The Hindu , Dr. Jacob said that the proposal was to supply water to the wild animals during the summer months and that the same should be commissioned this year itself if further deaths are to be prevented. Such a scheme would also be beneficial to the tribal groups living within the forests areas, he said.

As per a technical report submitted in this connection by the Assistant Engineer of the Local Self-Government Department, C. R. Sudhir, the whole project can be commissioned at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crores. Four prime wildlife locations in the district have been identified for the purpose. The scheme would comprise ponds, water tanks, pump houses, a distribution system, drinking areas and a green belt. The ground water table of the area will be tapped for the purpose. Studies conducted show that the area has been blessed with a rich water-table.

As per the records available with the Forest Department more than 250 animals died of drought in the forests of Wayanad district during the summer months last year. The dead animals comprise around 40 elephants alone. Soon a campaign to save the animals was launched by the voluntary organisation, the Animal Cruelty and Torture Prevention Squad.

Campaign by squad

The Squad had brought the situation to the attention of the State Government. The AHD study and recommendation for the water supply scheme was in fact triggered by the campaign launched by the squad. The Wayanad forests are a habitat to a wide range of wildlife comprising elephants, tigers, leopards and antelopes.

The forests of this district comprise traditional migration routes of the animals that arrive here in bulk from the forests of the neighbouring States too to quench their thirst during the summer months. But last year when their traditional quenching sites went dry, the animals got puzzled and their search for water went not only in vain, but claimed the lives of many among them. In his report, Mr. Sudhir points out that as a result of the drastic climatic changes at Wayanad, the annual rainfall which earlier touched 3,500mm dipped to 2,000 mm last year.

It is feared that the rainfall level can drop further this year. Commissioning a water supply scheme in the area will mean saving the wildlife of the Nilgiri biosphere. The locations identified for the scheme are Mathamangalam, Bavali, Muthumari and Makkimala.

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