The Forest Department has begun supplying water to artificial tanks in forest areas near Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district to help wildlife cope with the ongoing summer drought.
The Mettupalayam forest region, located along the foothills of the Western Ghats, is home to several wild animals including elephants, tigers, leopards, bears, wild buffaloes and deer.
The area also serves as an important migratory route for elephants, resulting in a significant elephant population.
Officials said the region has not received sufficient rainfall for the past three months and rising summer temperatures have caused natural water sources in the forest to dry up. Forest ponds, streams and rainwater catchment areas have almost dried up, creating a shortage of drinking water for wildlife.
Due to the scarcity of water inside the forest, wild animals, particularly elephants, often move towards nearby villages in search of water, increasing the risk of human-animal conflict.
To address this, the Forest Department has constructed artificial water tanks along the forest borders and has begun filling them with water transported by vehicles. This helps elephants and other animals drink water within the forest area and return without entering human settlements. As part of the summer preparedness measures, forest staff are also cleaning and repairing the tanks by removing moss and stagnant water before filling them with fresh water.
Officials said herds of elephants have already been seen visiting the tanks to drink water, helping reduce stress on wildlife during the dry season and preventing potential conflict with nearby villages.
