The onset of monsoon in Kabini achkat area has been a boon for the wildlife facing acute water scarcity.
The rains have increased the water level in Kabini reservoir by 3.5 feet as well as the flow of water in the backwaters on which wild animals, including elephants, and hundreds of villages are dependent for drinking water.
Only a few elephants were congregating at the Kabini backwaters between Nagarhole and Bandipur where earlier 600 to 800 were seen in summer so far, sources said. Most wild animals had migrated in the last two months due to dry river.
The decrease in water level had also forced resorts to discontinue boating in the backwaters.
However, the situation has improved in the last couple of days with rains in Nagarhole and Bandipur national parks filling up water holes and streams, marking the return of the elephant population in the backwaters.
Meanwhile, Nagarhole Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Belliyappa said the elephants have slowly started concentrating as the water level has increased resulting in the increase of green grass.
He said the elephants have now moved towards Mudumalai, Wayanad and Lakshmana Tirtha catchment areas as the whole region was completely dry.The Assistant Conservator of Forest said that the rains in Kodagu district has rejuvenated the vegetation in Nagarhole, Kalahalla and B B Kuppe forest ranges.
Murali, a resident of Gandanthur in the Kabini backwater region, said the rise in the water level has brought relief to the villagers.
He said that herds of elephants can be frequently sighted after the region received the pre-monsoon showers.
Reservoir Level Up
Meanwhile, irrigation officials confirmed that the rains in the last four days have increased the Kabini reservoir’s water level.
However, the officials said that they need 18 feet more water to ensure that the Kabini reservoir level rises above the dead storage capacity.
