M B Maramkal | TNN
Bellary: The Daroji Bear Sanctuary was specially created to protect the sloth bear. Just 15km from Hampi, this sanctuary gives the town another identity besides heritage. But today with the water zones in the sanctuary almost dry, the bears are forced to trek miles in search of water in this hilly dry deciduous forest region.
Most of the tanks located inside the park such as Hirehuli, Hande Gowramma, Obalapur and Karimatti which get filled up during rainy season have either dried up or drying. Along
with water, food seems to be turning scarce for the bears with the yield in fruit-bearing trees like jamun (Eugenea jambolana) and Kavale (Carissa carandas) dwindling.
A park official said that this was for the first time in recent years that tanks inside the park limits had dried up. Efforts of the officials to fill check dams and water ponds created inside the park with water drawn from Tungabhadra high level and low level canals have failed to provide respite. The official said that the worst affected would be bears as they being sluggish in nature cannot trek long distances in search of water. With day temperature rising to 42 - 43 degrees Celsius in this rocky region, the water transported in tankers to these check dams and water ponds dries up within a day or two, a source said.
“We are working overtime to provide relief to the bears as this the only sloth bear park in the country and it is imperative on our part to protect them,” the source added. In addition to nearly 200 sloth bears, the park boasts of providing shelter to scores of leopards, 120 species of birds, jackals and monkeys.
Admitting the severity of the situation, chief conservator of forests K N Murthy said the department was fully geared up to meet the water demand of bears and other animals in the sanctuary. “We will soon work out a contingency plan,’’ he said.
FEELING THE HEAT: Forest staff fill up tanks to quench the thirst of bears at Daroji sloth bear park in Bellary district
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