PALAKKAD: The drought situation in the district has led to a paucity of potable water seriously affecting the people, cattle and wild animals alike.
On Sunday, locals caught a spotted fawn seen roaming about in a weak condition in Palakkad and transported it to the Jaiprakash Smrithivanam in Walayar. Recently, a Nilgiri tahr spotted in similar conditions was also rehabilitated in the park and released into the forests after it regained health.
Sources in the Forests and Wildlife Department said one or two animals were brought to the park each month for rehabilitation. But, the park is battling its own problems like the dearth of infrastructure and absence of a veterinary surgeon. Together, the twin troubles and the scarcity of fodder and potable water have led to a sharp decline in the population of residents of the 104-acre deer park which is named after social reformer and Indian independence activist Jayaprakash Narayan.
At present, the park houses only 11 sambar deer, against the 105 deer, including spotted deer, that roamed in it 2010. Leopard and wild dogs exploit the gaps in the fencing of the park and the lack of maintenance to feast on the park’s inhabitants. One of the labourers at the park said the predators preyed upon spotted deer due to its tasty meat, leaving only sambar deer in the enclosure.
Shifted in 2000
In 2000, the deer in Malampuzha zoo were moved to the Walayar park after the Zoo Authority of India (ZAI), following Maneka Gandhi’s intervention, objected to the animals being cramped in the zoo’s small area. “But the shifting led to near extinction of the deer. The three-metre fencing around the park is weak in several places and the gaps are covered with tree branches, leaving the deer exposed,” said the South India coordinator of the Wildlife Protection Society of India S Guruvayurappan. “In 2012, the Forest Department submitted a proposal to get the park recognised as a mini zoo under the Wildlife Protection Act at an outlay of Rs 1.50 crore. The funds were not allotted. ZAI gave a conditional recognition to the park till April 30, 2013, but withdrew it in February 2014 after the modifications suggested by ZAI were not carried out,” said sources. Subsequently, the park was asked to shift the deer to the Thrissur or Thiruvananthapuram zoo. Since both were already overcrowded, this could not be done.
Releasing the animals into the forests was not viable as the deer were not familiar with the terrain, while using tranquilisers was also ruled out as the deer could die of shock and fear.
Manpower woes
Two muster roll workers are sanctioned to look after the deer. As they couldn’t handle it on their own, a third worker was appointed and the three divide the wages of the sanctioned posts. Workers said a large pit has been dug out and filled with water to provide respite to the deer. Water is also provided in vessels. The submersible pump for providing water is under repair.
Awaiting report
Forest Department officers said Biologist Aneesh of the Silent Valley National Park had visited the park last week and suggested areas where they could be shifted. His report can now decide the fate of the animals, which are slowly dying in the park .