Mangaluru: While the scorching summer heat is driving wildlife thirsting for water in the Western Ghats into nearby villages in search of it, causing more man- animal conflict in the region, wildlife activists here believe homestays and resorts that have sprung up in and around the forests are aggravating the crisis.
“We have found that many of the water bodies have dried up in the forests this year. But this is not only due to lack of rainfall but also the homestays and resorts, which are diverting the natural flow of water in the region using pipes. In many places the planters too are diverting the water, impacting the natural water bodies,” says Sahyadri Sanchaya convenor, Dinesh Holla.
Pointing out that the animals have no choice but to emerge from the forests in search of water as all their sources have dried up, he says once they enter a village they stay there for some time as they get enough grass to eat and water to drink. "Recently about 40 bisons lingered near Kamalashile village in Udupi district for several days,” he recalls.
Also concerned about the fate of the animals, NECF state secretary, Shashidhar Shetty stresses that the unnatural diversions and man-made hurdles drying up the water bodies in the forests must be cleared immediately.
“The man- made hurdles should be cleared in the Western Ghats. And in places like Bandipur the government needs to set up small windmills to pump water for the animals,” he suggests.
