Odisha: Leopard’s sunstroke sparks soul-searching

BHUBANESWAR: The principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), S K Popli, on Monday asked all divisional forest officers to dig up old water bodies in forests and ensure that they have water for the wild animals in view of a leopard suffering from sunstroke in a forest in Nuapada district on Sunday.
“During this period availability of water is a major constraint, and there is local movement and migration of wild animals in search of water. Sometimes they come out of forests. We have decided to analyse water availability in all forest beats and identify the grey areas. Water may be supplemented in the water bodies if required. In places of acute water shortage, a plastic sheet-lined trough can be facilitated,” said the letter sent by Popli.
It further said regular patrolling near water bodies, particularly in remote areas is required to prevent “machans” (raised platforms) or salt licks created by poachers to lure animals. This is the time, the poachers take advantage of water shortage and lure animals in these ways.