Kerala: Elephants wander in search of water, food

Kalpetta (Kerala), Apr 3: With the onset of summer, drought and forest fire prevailing, clusters of elephants and other wild animals of Karnataka and Kerala forests are wandering in search of drinking water and food.

The ''Project Elephant'' areas under the Nilgiri biosphere such as Bandipur and Nagarholla national parks, Muthumala forest division and Muthanga wildlife sanctuary of Kerala have become drought-affected areas facing acute scarcity of drinking water and food for wild animals.

Restless elephants in search of water and food could be seen on both sides of the 212-Kollangal National Highway passing through the Karnataka forests.

''Anagadda,'' a drinking water source for pachyderms inside the Karnataka forests had dried up making things worse for them.

Frequent eruption of forest fire in these areas had resulted in the destruction of bushes and trees. Streams inside the Karnataka forests had also dried up in the absence of rain.

There were reports that elephants in search of water and food were straying into neighbouring villages threatening the life of villagers and destroying crops.

According to official sources, there has been a steady increase in the number of elephants in Karnataka and Kerala forests in recent times.

UNI