Today more than 40 per cent of India is reeling under drought due to the delayed monsoon and dried up water resources in the forests. This is also severely affecting wildlife. Animals are compelled to leave their natural habitat and are infiltrating into human settlement to quench their thirst. To control the growing human-animal conflicts near Turahalli forest, People for Animals(PFA), an NGO providing intensive care and rehabilitation to the animals, have launched a project to replenish the water resources of Turahalli forest.
About 20 km away, on the outskirts of the Bangalore, Turahalli forest is a home to hundreds of animals. With the help of citizen and the government, PFA has created a pond in the heart of the forest where animals can quench their thirst and survive the blazing sun in the scorching heat of summer.
Water tankers are being sent to the forest
With the permission of Karnataka Forest Department, People for animals have been sending gallons of water to replenish the dried-up water resources in the woods. “Since Saturday (3rd April,19) we have sent ten tankers to the forest, each carrying 6000 litres of water. We are determined to carry the project till monsoon arrives and fills the water resources with sufficient rainfall”, said Dr Nawaz Shariff, General Manager and Chief Veterinarian with PFA while talking to The Logical Indian.
The project will continue for 90 days
With many helping hands coming forward, Dr Shariff feels that people do care for the wildlife.
“We can almost feel the forest breathe a sigh of relief at the water gushing into the hollowed-out space in the ground that serves as one of the watering holes to the forest creatures,” said Dr Nawaz Shariff.
The project will continue for 90 days to save Bengaluru’s precious wildlife. Dr Shariff elaborated that Turahalli forest is a home for many spotted deer who are extremely sensitive. “These deers are driven to human habitation for water which is very dangerous for them considering that fact that these animals can die of shock with any sort of touch. We have no records of casualty yet, but we do not want to take any chance”, he added.
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