Coimbatore: With all of the five cement tanks constructed to quench the thirst of wild animals in the Anaikatti Forests lying either damaged or useless, wild animals are venturing more out of the forests and coming into conflict with humans claim activists.
Coimbatore: With all of the five cement tanks constructed to quench the thirst of wild animals in the Anaikatti Forests lying either damaged or useless, wild animals are venturing more out of the forests and coming into conflict with humans claim activists.
While four of the tanks constructed at different locations inside the reserve are heavily damaged over time, one other tank constructed near the Ganga Brick Kiln chamber close to the Anaikatti Main Road near Alamaramedu has a fatal blockage that has left it totally dry.
Even as the tank was being filled by a private farm owner nearby since being constructed, due to blockage in the pipes, water is no more reaching the tank and leaving it totally dry.
Because of this situation, larger mammals including elephants are forced to cross the main road to drink water from a tank near a private brick kiln, which results in conflict with humans.
According to activists, the animals that cross the road are prone to being hit by speedy vehicles. “Many animals have been hit by vehicles here. Recently a leopard was run over and an elephant was hit by a car. Smaller mammals die on a regular basis,” said an a resident of Aalamaramedu.
The remaining tanks are spread across the Anaikatti hills including two in the Dhumanur tribal settlement, one at Koottupulikkadu and one near the Salim Ali Centre of Ornithology and Natural History.
“The condition of these tanks also remains poor and useless as the forest department personnel are not maintaining them properly. If they are properly looked after, conflict could reduce rapidly here,” said an activist.