Cool steps to help wildlife beat the heat

With the onset of summer, the forest department has initiated a variety of measures at the Eturunagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the oldest in the State, to provide relief to animals.

The department has set up water and fodder points for the wild animals. Such points aid in headcount as animals go there at regular intervals for food and water, and cameras have been set up at the water bodies since last year to record the movement and types of animals in the sanctuary.

The officials have also set up 12 saucers pits, 25 cement rings and 30 percolation tanks in north and south range of the forest areas.

Eturunagaram Forest Divisional Officer Pradeep Kumar Setty said animal movement are being recorded on sensor cameras. “Through this, we will come to know that if there is any scarcity of food and water,” he said.

Officials are collecting details of the animals and their location, apart from keeping an eye on their needs. A few more water points are also proposed to be set up. A fortnight ago, volunteers from the forest department head office surveyed wildlife and their habitats. The cameras also prove useful in locating poachers, say officials.

Mr Setty said the camera traps would be set up at more areas. He has appealed to the people driving in the sanctuary to reduce their speed limit to 30 km per hour so that the animals are not disturbed.