Kabani shores becomes home to Asian tuskers again

Posted on 08 Apr 2016

As summer peaked, Nilgiris, home to the highest number of Asian elephants in the world, is seeing tuskers descent the hills and forests to the river s...

Sulthan Bathery: As summer peaked, Nilgiris, home to the highest number of Asian elephants in the world, is seeing tuskers descent the hills and fores...

As summer peaked, Nilgiris, home to the highest number of Asian elephants in the world, is seeing tuskers descent the hills and forests to the river side looking for food and water.

The Kabani river side Nilgiri Biome that include Bandipur, Wayanad and Nagarhole is the reservoir of the Beechanahally dam in Karnataka. When the water is released in large quantities for agricultural purposes, the reservoir turns into an expansive ground. Elephants in herds and lone tuskers can be found eating and resting on these banks on mornings and evenings. More and more animals can be spotted as one crosses the tiny islets on the Kabani waters.

The shores of Kabani used to house vast stretches of bamboo forests. But now due to the destruction of these vital source of food for the animals, only a few number of animals visit here during summers.

When the rains come and the reservoir fills up, the animals move up the hill to safe places. They return when the waters start receding in December. This year, the rains were scanty in Wayanad causing a quick dry up of the reservoir.