Forest Dept takes steps to provide water to birds, animals

The Forest Department has taken necessary steps to provide drinkingwaterto animals and birds at the Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary, which is reeling under unprecedented drought this year.
Out of the 58 natural water bodies in the sanctuary, water is available only in a few. In addition, there were seven artificial tanks - four inside and three outside the sanctuary, Kodiakarai Forest Ranger Ayub Khan said.
These artificial tanks are being filled with more than 10,000 litres ofwaterthrough tankers daily, he said.
The initiative was taken after it was noticed that a large number of feral horses, wild boars, monkeys and peacocks were straying into the roads outside the sanctuary in search of water, he said.

Steps would be taken to increase the water supply to the artificial tanks if needed in the coming days, he said.
The Point Calimere wildlifesanctuary,situated in 20 sqkm area in the forests of Kodikarai in the district serves as the abode for a good population of black bucks, antelopes, chitals, feral horses, wild boars other animals and about 250 species of birds.

The forest area was declared as a wildlifesanctuaryin 1967.
The lagoons in the area with their rich fish population attract thousands of migratory birds from countries as far as Siberia every year.
Failure of monsoon and the severity of summer have entirely changed the situation in thesanctuarynow, the official said.