This summer, unusual rise in temperature has taken a heavy toll on the wild animals. Unable to bear the heat wave condition, animals are dying in the forest areas.
Besides the heat wave condition, water bodies in different green pockets of the district have also dried up. As a result, wild animals, particularly spotted deers are straying into human habitations to quench their thirst.
Acute shortage of drinking water facilities for the animals in forests of Raghunathpur, Ersama and Balikuda has become a serious concern. The villagers of Raghunathpur area found a dead spotted deer last week while another deer was found straying into a village in Ersama area on Thursday. Later, the villagers handed it over to the Forest officials.
Forest officials said the baby deer that was found dead in Raghunathpur area might have come from Dhatragara forest and died due to sun stroke. The veterinary doctors are trying to ascertain the cause of its death. Environmentalists said more than 15 spotted deers have died in last three years due to heat wave and scarcity of water.
Earlier, the spotted deers could be seen in Dhartangada, Jatadhari Tanda, Deokani, Nadiakhia and other forest areas. But now the deers have deserted the areas due to shortage of grass and water, the locals said. All ponds and water bodies including Hansua river have completely dried up.
While the Forest Department is yet to take any step for digging up ponds or rain water harvesting, no plantation programme has been undertaken to restore greenery.
However, Forest ranger of Kujang Satyaban Samantray said the forest cover under Rajnagar division will get the water bodies. Forest Department has dug ponds in different forest areas of Ersama. The deer which was seen in Ersama has been sent to nearby forest, he added.
fallout
■ The deers have deserted the areas due to shortage of grass and water
■ Forest Department is yet to take any step for digging up ponds or rain water harvesting. No plantation programme has been undertaken to restore greenery