The Hindu : Front Page : Rain revives hopes of sanctuary authorities

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Rain revives hopes of sanctuary authorities

V.S. Palaniappan

Pollachi: Signs of North East monsoon setting in and showers in the last few days in the Anaimalai Tiger Reserve (erstwhile 958 sq km Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary) have renewed hopes of the sanctuary managers.

The sanctuary authorities are pinning hopes on the North East monsoon as the rain during the South West monsoon, which has just made its exit, was below average in the sanctuary area.

With the monsoon setting in and traces of good rainfall, Field Director of the tiger reserve H. Basuvaraju and Range Officer S. Thangaraj Panneerselvam are making arrangements to carry out works such as planting of saplings and renovation of water holes.

Last year, the rainfall during the South West monsoon i.e., April to October was 1,544 mm in 85 days whereas the rainfall this year during the same period was just 663 mm in 55 days.

Last year rain fall in April was 125 mm, June 243 mm, July 531 mm, August 322 and September 281. Whereas this year it was 15 mm in April, 200 mm in June, 205 in July, 128 in August and 98 in September. The recent rainfall has not only renewed the vegetation in the sanctuary but also hopes for managing the summer season.

Filling up of water holes is paramount to ensure that wild animals do not stray into human habitations resulting in man animal conflicts. In addition, water and wetness of the surface are necessary to plant saplings and also to provide adequate water for tourists.

Above all, a prolonged dry spell could expose the sanctuary to forest fires. With the rainfall setting in now, the authorities are heaving a sigh of relief.

They also said a downpour for only a few days would not benefit the sanctuary as the entire water would flow down the hill. But a steady rain was the requirement of any reserve forest or sanctuary.

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