With the summer treating the forests of Coimbatore with a dry spell, Forest Department is taking various measures to maintain water levels in troughs, natural and artificial waterholes.
According to officials, effective and timely maintenance of the troughs have reduced straying of animals into human habitations and agricultural fields in search of water.
Straying of elephants in search of water, which is common during summer, has also reduced this year.
“Straying of wild animals has reduced in this summer due to various reasons. Filling of the troughs at regular intervals has confined animals within the forest due to availability of water. Rapid Response Team and Anti-Poaching Watchers are also actively engaged in preventing straying of animals,” said S. Ramasubramanian, Conservator of Forests, Coimbatore Circle.
District Forest Officer N. Satheesh said said that water is filled in 46 normal troughs and eight solar-powered troughs located at seven forest ranges at regular intervals in Coimbatore forest division. While water is transported to normal troughs using trucks, solar troughs have bore wells attached to them. Except Karamadai range, six forest ranges have solar-powered troughs. Coimbatore range is having the highest number of three such troughs.
