Thirst forces tigers to go out of their habitats in Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve

Atmakuru: Tigers in the 3,568 square km Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve are forced to leave their habitat in search of water and enter the plain areas as the mercury goes up to 46 degrees Celsius during the current summer.

During summer, the forest department, spending from the WorldWildlife Fund funds, should fill the saucer pits formed in the Nallamala forest region with water. The forest department should monitor the movements of the wild animals. In spite of the precautions, wild animals are becoming easy prey to the hunters during summer.

In Velugodu forest range, a tiger codenamed T29 went missing for over one-and-a-half years, while an 18-month-old tiger was found dead. Similarly, other wild animals like deer, bears, leopards in TeluguGanga project region are reported to be dying. But, there was no response from forest personnel.

There are at least 80 saucer pits in Nallamala forest region. Forest officials claim to have been filling the each pit with 4,000 litre water. The water is allegedly getting evaporated within 24 hours. Some others have dried up completely. Animals are said to be falling prey to the traps laid by poachers while in search of water.

In Atmakuru forest division, the number of tigers is expected to be around 80. Other animals are falling prey to big animals as they faint or get disoriented out of thirst. The animals venturing out of forest area are approaching agriculture wells, irrigation canals and other water sources to quench their thirst but are getting ensnared in the traps laid by the poachers and are unable to go back to their habitat.

Wildlife lovers have been demanding the forest officials to take steps to get the water pits set up in the forest region filled with water and implement effective supervision, conduct surprise visits and punish the corrupt since the summer will last for another 50 days.

By M Sathya Peter