Punarjani is abuzz with wild animals during evenings. A check-dam in the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, it has been recharged with waters of the Chinnar river from the Thayannankudy settlement.
The State is in the grip of drought so are the wildlife sanctuaries, forcing its denizens to move out of forests to human habitations in search of water and fodder.
Punarjani, in a grassland of the sanctuary, is a solace for wild animals.
“It was nearly three years back that Punarjani became a reality,” said Assistant Wildlife Warden P.M. Prabhu.
He said when the wild animals where found moving from the elevated areas of the forest to the banks of the Chinnar and the Pampar, the authorities thought of recharging a check-dam inside the forest that usually went dry during summer.
A six-km hose was laid on the basis of a project prepared by Munnar Wildlife Warden G.Prasad and the tail water from a mini hydroelectric project that provided power to the Thayannankudy tribal settlement and the forest quarters was re-directed to the check-dam.
“Now, it was the rebirth of a water filled check-dam and animals could easily drink water during hot summer days,” said Mr. Prabhu.
The shortage of water was severe and the perennial Chinnar river was the main water source for the sanctuary, he said.
It was an experiment and the death of small species due to water shortage could be prevented to an extent, he added.
“The sanctuary hosts the largest species of reptile population and is a natural habitat of star tortoise and other small species. The shortage of water was detrimental to those wild animals confined to elevated areas,” said Mr. Prabhu.
He added that earlier forest officials periodically filled water in dried-up ponds. It was costly and the water evaporated soon under the sun.
“Punarjani solved the issues in one go. It not only used the water which otherwise went waste but also helped in preserving an ecosystem in the dry deciduous forest,” Mr. Prabhu said.
