Kendrapada: As the mercury crosses 40 degrees Celsius and water holes and ponds dry up, authorities at Bhitarkanika National Park have implemented special measures to ensure wild animals have access to water.
Artificial Water Tanks and Renovated Ponds
Assistant Conservator of Forest Manas Kumar Das stated, 'We are filling up artificial water tanks in the forest to provide drinking water to animals. We renovated 45 ponds and installed 70 cement water tanks.' These efforts aim to mitigate the impact of the intense heat on the park's diverse wildlife.
Wildlife at Risk
Bhitarkanika is home to spotted deer, wild boars, water monitors, king cobras, saltwater crocodiles, fishing cats, and other animals. Das added, 'Animals like spotted deer stray into nearby villages in the summer to quench their thirst. Villagers have been asked to be alert to wildlife movement.'
Regarding snakes, the forest officer explained, 'Snakes that cannot control their body temperature become agitated when the mercury rises abnormally. This is the main reason behind the sudden spurt in snakebite cases in the villages around forests in summer as snakes come out from their holes and move towards villages.'
Anti-Poaching Measures
Poachers also target straying animals during summer. 'We are on high alert to prevent poaching. Forest guards have been directed to conduct regular patrolling in the villages around forest areas and keep a close watch on habitual poachers who place snares, wires, and traps to kill spotted deer and wild boars,' added the officer.
Protecting Crocodiles and Hatchlings
Special care is being taken by forest officials to protect penned estuarine crocodiles, including an albino crocodile named 'Gori,' as water in the small ponds where the reptiles are kept is drying up. Around 50 crocodile hatchlings in the breeding and research center at Dangamala are also being cared for, as they are particularly susceptible to the heat.
Forest Fire Prevention
To prevent destruction of forests and wildlife from fires, the forest department has set up fire lines around the park. These fire lines will help control any accidental forest fire. The forest officer added, 'We have installed fire extinguishers in boats and provided fire extinguishers to forest guards to check any accident. To check fire in the forest, the department has also banned cooking inside park areas by tourists. Forest guards and watchers have been instructed to keep an eye on forest areas and inform the fire brigade and forest officials at Rajnagar immediately after a fire in the forest.'
