Summer mitigation plan in forest areas withdrawn: Official

Stating that the vegetation, which was dry earlier, was turning green, an official said, “Our summer mitigation plan of providing water into water holes in tiger reserves has been withdrawn.” The foresters are also likely to heave a sigh of relief as incidence of wild elephants straying into human settlements in search of water is expected to subsidise due to rainfall.

Of the four tiger reserves, Anamalai Tiger reserve in Coimbatore and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve has started receiving the monsoon rains.

The movement of spotted deer and gaurs inside forests has picked up due to rains, thereby confirming the change in vegetation. With the monsoon picking up in Kerala, parts of Coimbatore, Krishnagiri and Tirunelveli district will also benefit, the official said.

According to Nilgiris north wildlife sources, Mudumalai tiger reserve has been receiving sporadic rains, while the catchment area contributing to Pykara dam has also started receiving rains. The reserve forests, under which the Dodabetta peak falls, had also been receiving rains since last week. However, there has been no intense rains in Nilgiris north division, sources said.

Elsewhere, foresters serving in Sathyamangalam tiger reserve are awaiting rains as the crucial corridor that connects the Western Ghats with Eastern Ghats is yet to receive the usual rainfall for the month of May and June.

Avalanche in the Nilgiris, Upper Kothayar in Tirunelveli has also started receiving good rains, field staffers told DT Next.