The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Wildlife in Kawwal under pressure

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Tuesday, Jan 29, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Wildlife in Kawwal under pressure

S. Harpal Singh

To prevent death of animals due to scarcity of food and water, the Forest Department has initiated certain measures

Nutritious diet: An Indian sambar licking a lump of ’salt lick’ slung from a tree at the deer breeding centre at Jannaram in Adilabad district.

JANNARAM (ADILABAD DT.): The fast approaching summer and the increasing scarcity of food and water in the forests of Adilabad district has started exerting pressure on the wildlife here, chiefly in the Kawwal Wildlife Sanctuary. To prevent the death of animals due to non-availability of these indispensables in the wilderness, the Forest Department has initiated certain measures.

The reserve spread over about 900 square km of forests covering six ranges in Jannaram and Nirmal forest divisions is home to a variety of wild animals. Besides the 18 tigers and 32 panthers, Kawwal has the Indian gaur, four-horned antelope, black buck, Chinkara, Chital, Indian sambar and wolf and many other species figuring at the bottom of the food chain.

Migration

“Shrinking availability of food and water makes herds of wild animals move to even unlikely places, especially during the hot months. When reports of such sightings are made, we prepare to initiate measures to ease the pressure on the animals in the wild,” said Jannaram Divisional Forest Officer A. Kishan.

Besides the construction of a dozen new water tanks in the Kawwal Sanctuary, cleaning of the 35 natural water springs and about 60 saucer wells by animal trackers has already been started in November last year. These become much sought after spots by wild animals during the summer months. Fodder is being cultivated in about 160 hectares in addition to the quantity generated in the 1,000-hectare bamboo forests in the sanctuary. To provide animals with sufficient nutrients, ‘salt licks’ or lump of common salt with little quantities of iron, phosphorus and zinc are slung from trees near spots that are favoured by animals.

Scarcity all around

The 20-year-old deer breeding centre at Jannaram, also part of the Kawwal Sanctuary, presents a perfect picture of scarcity and counter measures. There are about 60 animals in the 20-hectare enclosure that are provided fodder and water by the four watchers.

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