Madikeri: Summer is intensifying and not only rivers which are the lifeline of the people that are going dry creating drinking water problems, even the forests are going dry causing a lot of problems to wild animals and birds.

One of the common scenes in the Anechowkur forest region in Virajpet taluk of Kodagu District is of a wild elephant lifting water from a pond through its trunk, even as a deer quietly comes to the pond with fear writ large on its face seeing the huge elephant, takes a sip and darts away.  It is surprising how nature works. Just a few months ago, a part of Kodagu was devastated with floods, but now with the sun blazing not only humans but even animals and birds are tottering due to lack of water. As the temperatures keep rising, the lakes, the ponds and the waterholes are all drying up.

On one side there is water scarcity and on the other the fear of forest fire due to summer heat. In this precarious position, the animals are facing shortage of food and scarcity of water. In the Anechowkur forest region due to lack of rainfall, water has not been collected anywhere.

In this scenario, the Forest Department has come forward to replenish these waterholes so that it will benefit the wild animals and birds. The officials have dug borewells in the surrounding areas so that the wild animals will not suffer. They are using solar power to fill the empty lakes and waterholes.  This has resulted in the wild animals coming to these places in the morning and evening to drink water. The elephants, deer and other animals are quenching their thirst here.

The villagers in the surrounding areas are appreciating the good work of the Forest Department.

Kodagu district was in the national news following heavy floods which had devastated the district. However, in the coming days with the water sources drying up it may even face a drought-like situation, which cannot be ruled out.

Even in the midst of this anxiety, the Forest Department is easing the water scarcity problem faced by the wild animals and birds in the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve limits.

By Prasad Sampigekatte