Summer showers received have brought relief to wild animals as well as people living in areas close to forests as incidents of animals straying into human habitations in search of water and fodder significantly reduced in the district.
According to Forest Department officials, forests coming under seven ranges in Coimbatore division received summer showers, adequate enough to accelerate growth of fodder.
With availability of fodder increased, animals straying into agricultural fields has come down, especially incidents of crop raiding by elephants.
Fodder growth in the forest has increased after the summer rains. This will definitely reduce instance of animals entering human habitation. We are also ensuring provision of water in 16 troughs in Mettupalayam range, said a forest official from Mettupalayam.
Mettuplalayam and Periyanaickenpalayam ranges had witnessed highest incidents of elephants crossing forest boundary and entering human habitations according to a recent study conducted by Osai NGO.
Though all the forest ranges received rains this summer, forests areas of Siruvani in the Pooluvampatti range received the highest share of rains according to officials.
They added that water levels in some of the natural waterholes in the forests have also been increased after the rains.
Apart from natural waterholes and streams, Forest Department is providing water for animals through in 46 normal troughs and eight solar-powered troughs located at seven forest ranges at regular intervals in summer.
