Berhampur: With most of the water sources drying up due to the scorching sun, the Forest department in Ganjam district is filling holes and saucer pits with water in blackbuck habitat areas to quench the thirst of animals. Ganjam is the only district in the state, where blackbucks, a ‘Schedule 1’ animal are sighted. Their numbers stood at 7,745 in the last census held in February.
The Forest department has erected a number of saucer pits in Aska, Buguda, and Polasra forest ranges under Ghumusar south division so that the blackbucks have a plentiful supply of water. The animals often venture into the nearby villages in search of water and are targeted by stray dogs, said Amulya Upadhaya, president, Ganjam district Blackbuck protection committee. He said they have rescued a blackbuck recently from a stray dog in the Bhetanai area.
Officials said blackbuck herds roaming in Jagata Padia near Bhetanai have migrated to other places in search of water, as the water bodies in many forest ranges have dried up due to the scorching heat. Prabhakar Nayak, assistant conservator of Forests (ACF) Ghumusar South said they have erected around 100 saucer pits of around two-feet deep and four-feet wide, in different areas of the division to provide water to the animals. “We have instructed all foresters to fill up the pits at least twice a week by engaging labourers,” Nayak said. “We have also renovated the ponds inside the blackbuck habitat areas,” he added. Nayak said that till now not a single blackbuck has died due to heatstroke or lack of water even though temperatures at several players have gone past the 40-degree Celsius mark. Pramod Kumar Panda, range officer, Aska said they have kept a strict watch on the movement of the blackbucks. “We are regularly filling the pits with water. Despite the scorching heat, there is no dearth of water for the animals,” he said. “In addition, grass is being grown to provide fodder for herbivorous blackbucks,” he added