Animals face soaring mercury, forest fires

RANCHI - Searing heat and recurring forest fires have made life hell for animals in Jharkhand’s Palamau Tiger Reserve, forest officials said.

The reserve has been reeling under forest fires in the past few days, with seven of them breaking out Tuesday night. The temperature has crossed the 47-degree mark in Palamau district.

“Fires break out regularly. In some areas, villagers also start forest fires,” Manoj Singh, director of the reserve, told IANS over phone.

“Villagers start the fire for good grass. When we get information, we take prompt action. We have made adequate arrangements for water in the forest for the animals,” Singh said.

According to a forest official, even poachers start forest fires to force animals to come out of the jungle.

“The animals run helter skelter in search of safe places when they see the fire. Poachers try to kill the animals as the forest officials are engaged in extinguishing fires,” a forest official said.

The Palamau Tiger Reserve is spread over an area of around 1,100 sq km. It was established in 1974 and a census at the time revealed that there were 50 tigers.

A survey in 2007 put the number of tigers in the reserve at 17.

Jharkhand is reeling under severe heat wave with many of its 24 districts witnessing temperatures over 46 degrees Celsius.