Chennai: Weather update is now part of wildlife management. After being mauled by cyclones Vardah and Nisha and the 2015 flash floods, foresters and the private institutions housing wild animals in Chennai and other cities have made it compulsory to monitor the monsoon weather updates.
“We have taken all monsoon preparatory measures to ensure that our wild
inmates particularly young crocodiles are intact during the November —
December months that are prone to flooding and cyclones,” said Allwin Jesudasan, Assistant Director, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Centre for Herpetology.
“As December approaches, we are preparing ourselves for a disaster with well-planned management strategies and are following the forecast of ‘Tamil Nadu Weatherman’ as we cannot afford big damages and the crocodile bank lives from hand to mouth.”
Tsunami of 2004 was the most severe, scary and damaging and there were difficult times during Vardah bringing fierce wind gusts and heavy rain, resulting in tree falls, damaged structures and flooding, recalled Allwin. November — December are high-tourist months but the unusual heavy rains over the last few years kept visitors away, he added.
Vandalur zoo authorities are also in touch with the Regional Meteorological Department, Chennai, to get rainfall forecast. “Following heavy rainfall warning early this month we were directed to keep the sand bags ready to prevent any breach,” a zoo source said.
Meanwhile, state forests have also sounded alert to farmers residing near reserve forests urging them to take preventive measures from elephant and wild animal movements. “With mist and rains lashing western districts there are possibility of animals straying in to residential settlements and there are also chances of encountering wild animals due to mist and poor vision. We have advised our field staff and local residents to be extra cautious,” said a forest ranger in Coimbatore circle.
Foresters in Palani hills have also alerted pilgrims and the farmers about the movement of elephant herds along the lower palani hills. “Also, the migration of elephants had picked up in Krishnangiri and the animals are now moving from unprotected lower plains to protected high altitude forests,” said another senior forest ranger.
