Saucer pits, ditches in Ghumusar renovated for birds, animals ahead of summer

Berhampur: Forest officials in Ganjam have started adopting measures to quench the thirst of wild animals and birds, particularly black bucks and peacocks, following rise in temperature. While over 230 new saucer pits have been set up in various places of Ghumusar south forest division, four new water bodies and six check dams were built in the division this year. The existing water bodies have been renovated to cater to needs of wild animals. "Similarly, seven new water harvesting structures, six new water bodies and five saucer-shaped fresh water ditches were built in Ghumusar north division this year. Its 15 existing water bodies have also been renovated this year," said Himasu Sekhar Mohanty, divisional forest officer (DFO), Ghumusar North. The saucer pits measuring two feet long, one feet wide and less than a foot deep are being set up in the villages near the forest areas in Aska, Buguda, Polasara and Bargarh forest ranges, where large numbers of black bucks, an endangered species, are roaming," said a forest officer. The saucer pits are filled with water every alternative day by the forest staff, he added."Not only for black bucks, the saucer pits also help other animals and birds to quench the thirst during summer," he said. There was no report of death of blackbuck or any other animals in the district owing to shortage of water, he said. Ganjam is the only district in the state, where the black bucks, a Schedule 1 animal are sighted and their number was counted at 9,287 in the latest count held in Jan. Of them, 5,972 have counted in Ghumusar south division only, sources said. Similarly, a large number of peacocks were seen flocking in Pakidi hill, near Cheramaria, Aska. "As the natural water bodies dried up in the forest areas, the black bucks are venturing into the nearby villages in search of drinking water. They are targeted by the wild dogs and meet with the accidents," said Amulya Upadhaya, president, Ganjam district blackbuck protection committee.Sameer Pradhan, president of the peacock protection committee, said the nearby villagers also helped the forest staff to fill up water in the pits, where a number of peacocks visit to drink.