Khammam: With water sources drying up in reserve forests, wildlife has started to foray into human habitations in search of water. Check dams that were built and trenches dug to check soil erosion and provide water to wild animals have all become redundant, since water reserves have dried up in Khammam district.
The district has 6,095 sq. km of reserve forest which is home to various species like gaur, sambar, bear, wildcats, deer and mountain goats, apart from peacocks and other birds. While wildlife around Kinnerasani reservoir is better off, the fauna in other areas are facing problems.
Pits dug in the reserve forests were supposed to be filled with water through tankers, but forest officials stopped doing so since the funds required were not released. There are reports that animals have started coming to the villages in Charla, Thallada and Aswapuram mandals in search of water and falling prey to poachers.
