Banke, April 18: Drying up of water sources has posed a threat to wildlife in the Banke National Park. The national park, however, was established some nine years ago for the expansion of the habitat of wild cat. The number of tigers has crossed 21 in the national park.
Even there are wild elephants in the national park. Nevertheless, water crisis has become a threat to the existence of the wildlife. There are no rivulets, ponds, lakes and wetlands as the source of drinking water for the wild beasts. With this the animals walk out from the national park which has also increased the incidents of human-animal clash, said Yubaraj Regmi, chief conservation officer of the national park.
The national park is also a habitat for deer, boar, antelope, leopard and beer among other animals. The non-swimming animals require much water for drink. But, only 26 artificial water ponds have been constructed in the national park which is stretched over the area of 550 square kilometers.
According to the national park sources, the territory requires at least 55 ponds to serve drinking water to the wildlife in the national park In the winter season, the water source get dried up which has also caused trouble to animals to consume water. The canal of the Sikta Irrigation which flows through the national park is not friendly for the animals for water consumption purpose.
There are several instances that small animals have drowned and died in the canal. Regmi informed that the national park is jointly carrying out a study with the irrigation project for the construction of structures in the canal friendly to animals for water consumption purpose.
