26 waterholes for wild animals in Yeoor range

The forest officers have also revived two artificial waterfalls by placing polythene sheets to avoid percolation and creating proper channels

Twenty-six waterholes, natural or artificial depressions containing rainwater or groundwater, have been created in the Yeoor forest range in Thane to ensure there is adequate drinking water for wild animals.

Desilting of a waterhole in Yeoor range in Thane. (HT)

“We constructed six new waterholes in areas that didn’t have a source of water. The remaining 19 waterholes were revived through desilting -- a thorough cleansing operation to make small water bodies operational. The idea is to provide enough water to animals till the next summer,” said Sanjay Waghmode, range forest officer, Yeoor.

The forest officers have also revived two artificial waterfalls by placing polythene sheets to avoid percolation and creating proper channels.

Unlike large water bodies like Tulsi and Virar at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) or Tungareshwar, the 60-sqkm Yeoor forest range does not have natural resources to help animals quench their thirst during summer.

The SGNP officers said while reviving waterholes is common at the national park and Tungareshwar, this is the first time so many isolated waterholes had been revived at Yeoor. “All animals living within a protected forest range move towards waterholes either during the morning or evening. This gives us a chance to keep a check on them through surveillance and carry out census,” said Vikas Gupta, chief conservator of forest, SGNP, adding, “The desilting process for waterholes at SGNP and Tungareshwar is currently being carried out.”