Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Poaching, drought threaten deer in Villupuram forests

By S. Dorairaj

VILLUPURAM SEPT. 3 . Alarm bells are rung for the deer population in the forests of Villupuram district, with a local MLA alleging that the animal has been facing the twin threat of poaching and depletion of water resources in their habitat.

S. Sivaraj, representing the Rishivandhiam segment in the Assembly, told The Hindu today that in a recent memorandum to the Minister for Forests and Environment, P. Mohan, he highlighted the plight of the timid animal. Stressing the need to take urgent steps to curb ruthless hunting, he had also suggested fencing around the reserved forests.

According to him, the total area under State-owned forests in the district was 34,200 acres spread over the Tirukkovilur (8400 acres), Pagandai (8400 acres), Sankarapuram (9000 acres) and Thiagadurgam (8400 acres) ranges. Most of the forest area had eucalyptus, gooseberry and cashew trees. Till recently, there was an estimated population of 700 deer in these forests, he said, and added that one was not sure about the number that had survived as poaching was going on in the area every now and then. As the water sources in the forests had dried up in view of acute drought conditions, deer used to stray into adjacent villages to quench their thirst. This had made the job of the hunters easy. There had also been occasions when the animals were killed in accidents while crossing roads, he claimed. The animals' migration to villages for water and fodder had also resulted in the destruction of crop raised by farmers, he pointed out. Fencing around the reserved forests would go a long way in preventing the animals from straying into the villages. The measure would also protect the crop, he said. In addition to this, he suggested that water troughs could be installed at selected locations so that the animals would not come out of the forests in search of drinking water sources.

C. Krishnamurthy, chairman, Thirukkovilur panchayat union, said 80 villages and hamlets including Madampoondi, Meyyur, Nariyendal, Basar and Vadamalayanur were located around the forests and straying of deer into the villages in herds was a frequent affair.

There had also been incidents of the animals accidentally falling into farm wells on their pursuit of water.

The stranded deer were often rescued by the villagers. Categorically denying any organised poaching activity in the area, he said that on some occasions when a deer drowned, farmers were put in trouble as they had to face action by the forest and police departments.

The deer also fell victim to speeding lorries, particularly when they attempted to cross roads in the forests, he said.

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