Kalpetta: As the mercury soars in the Nilgiris Biosphere, wild animals from the forest areas of nearby Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have begun migrating to the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in search of fodder and water. Bestowed with an abundance of fodder and water, the sanctuary has turned out to be a safe haven for wild animals like wild elephants, gaur, species of antelopes and bears during the peak summer season.
The annual migration usually begins by February end and goes on till onset of the monsoon, a senior forest official said, adding the forest department has initiated
steps to ensure availability of fodder and water for the migrating wild "guests".
Though the habitat has so far not been facing water scarcity, two temporary checkdams are being built inside the sanctuary, where water streams could dry up during the peak
summer months, he said.
"In case of any emergency, there is a tender machine with a water storage capacity of 3,000 litres and we can pump water as and when required," he added.
Moreover, work on a new earthen dam at a cost of Rs three lakh would begin soon at Muthappankolly, a major habitat of wild elephants in Muthanga range under WWLS, the official said.
PTI
First Published: Monday, March 15, 2010, 12:11