No Safety For Wildlife During Natural Diaster

During the third week of July, there were heavy rains all over the State. The wildlife, especially the ground flora and fauna, was gravely affected during such stormy weather. The villages like Khalikot, Rambha, Ashika, Buguda, Balipadar of Ganjam district are very famous for growing Krushnasar or black buck.In Balipadar area, the locals protect the wildlife of the zone with great deal of earnestness and zest. Not only black buck, but other species like peacocks are also protected from poaching and any kind of depredations.Although the local Forest Department is known as the custodian of the flora and fauna of the Balipadar black buck sanctuary, but for all practical purposes, the people of the area are the true managers of the sanctuary. No poaching of black buck or any kind of fauna and avifauna is seen in the protected zone.

But there is no provision to ward off disastrous situations of nature. Generally, the disastrous situations are seen in the shape of cyclone, rain, flood, fire and drought. So, the local Forest Department should take note of the point and devise ways and means to protect the wildlife in such an eventuality. During the incessant rain from July 19 to 25, at least 30 black bucks were found swept away from their habitats by the flood water of Kharakhari Nala of the locality. The Kharakhari Nala is a steep hill stream, which acts as a tributary of the Rushikulya river. However, showing great courage, the local people could save the antelopes from the flood water from sure death.

To meet such kind of disastrous situations, the Forest Department should maintain disaster rescue team. The Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) should be maintained by the State Forest Department for facing situations like forest fire, cyclone and flood etc. Not only black buck, there are huge numbers of land animals, ground birds, rodents, reptiles which are affected by such types of calamites. So timely rescue operations through ODRAF should be taken.

Black bucks generally prefer coastal plains and avoid hilly tracts. The antelope is found in Konark-Puri sea coast as well. At present, the population of black bucks in Puri-Konark coast is on the wane as the area is getting highly urbanized and the natural habitat is degrading due to population pressure. Besides black bucks, there are also deer and chital in the sanctuary. The Forest Department alone cannot provide adequate protections to the ecological system. Community management of the sanctuary is needed the most.