Saving wild animals from scorching heat

Summer is approaching soon and to protect wildlife from scorching heat and humidity, the Forest Department has made elaborate arrangement on priority basis in Bhitarkanika National Park.

As the temperature goes up, animals become irritated. It becomes essential to provide a near-natural habitat to them, said officials.

Arrangements are done to ensure that there is adequate drinking water to protect animals from dehydration.

In the absence of drinking water, animals intrude into human habitats on the outlines of the park, officials added.

“The Forest Department has started renovating 10 ponds inside the park as their water levels have receded due to siltation,” said divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove and Wildlife Division, Majoj Kumar Mohapatra.

Special care would be taken to protect penned estuarine crocodiles as the water level in small ponds will dry up very soon during summer.

“Wet curtains should be spread on iron barricades housing nearly 200 baby crocodiles in the Crocodile Breeding and Research Center at Dangamala,” said Mohapatra.

“Such measures should be taken for hatchlings as they are more vulnerable to heat compared to adults.” he added.

Forest officials have dug more ditches to store water inside the park to prevent endangered spotted deer and wild boars from straying into nearby villages in search of water.

Besides, meadows and grazing grounds have been developed inside the park to provide adequate food to animals.

Forest officials have decided to form a fire fighters' team in the park in view of fire outbreaks that occur during every summer.

Team equipped with water pumps and other equipment would be deployed at vulnerable points of the park, sources said.

“We have made all arrangements to ensure that the coming summer does not cause much hardship and resultant casualty to the wildlife here,” the DFO added.