Summer takes a toll on bats in Athgarh, 50 dead
thanks Lizzie Platt for sharing
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Summer-takes-a-toll-on-bats-in-Athgarh-50-dead/articleshow/13908806.cms
TNN | Jun 7, 2012, 11.00PM IST
CUTTACK: The scorching summer and intense heat wave have not only made the life of people miserable but that of bats too. More than 50 bats have died in Athgarh forest division in the last three days, forest officials said on Thursday.
Traditional water sources in the forests have dried up with temperature hovering between 42 and 44 degrees Celsius. As a result, bats, birds and other animals are facing an acute shortage of water. Following the deaths, the forest department has started rescue operation to save the endangered species. Police and fire brigade officials and villagers are involved in the rescue operation.
"We are spraying water on them with the help of fire brigade officials. We are also feeding the bats with solution of electral powder and ORS to save them from dehydration and sun stroke," said Athagarh DFO Arun Mishra. "Apart from bats, birds are also falling from their perch, fracturing their legs and damaging their wings due to the scorching summer. So a team of veterinary doctors have been deployed to take care of the injured flying mammals," said a senior forest official.
Athagarh forest division is home to over 10,000 bats. The endangered species stays on the top of big trees in Narsinghpur, Badamba and Joranda areas. Several squads have been formed to keep vigil on the bat populated areas.
Animals like elephants and deer are also affected by the summer. Thirsty deer that are straying into human habitations looking for water are falling prey to poachers. This summer five deer have been killed by poachers. "We have already started digging new ponds in the forest to make water available to the thirsty animals," a forest official said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Summer-takes-a-toll-on-bats-in-Athgarh-50-dead/articleshow/13908806.cms
TNN | Jun 7, 2012, 11.00PM IST
CUTTACK: The scorching summer and intense heat wave have not only made the life of people miserable but that of bats too. More than 50 bats have died in Athgarh forest division in the last three days, forest officials said on Thursday.
Traditional water sources in the forests have dried up with temperature hovering between 42 and 44 degrees Celsius. As a result, bats, birds and other animals are facing an acute shortage of water. Following the deaths, the forest department has started rescue operation to save the endangered species. Police and fire brigade officials and villagers are involved in the rescue operation.
"We are spraying water on them with the help of fire brigade officials. We are also feeding the bats with solution of electral powder and ORS to save them from dehydration and sun stroke," said Athagarh DFO Arun Mishra. "Apart from bats, birds are also falling from their perch, fracturing their legs and damaging their wings due to the scorching summer. So a team of veterinary doctors have been deployed to take care of the injured flying mammals," said a senior forest official.
Athagarh forest division is home to over 10,000 bats. The endangered species stays on the top of big trees in Narsinghpur, Badamba and Joranda areas. Several squads have been formed to keep vigil on the bat populated areas.
Animals like elephants and deer are also affected by the summer. Thirsty deer that are straying into human habitations looking for water are falling prey to poachers. This summer five deer have been killed by poachers. "We have already started digging new ponds in the forest to make water available to the thirsty animals," a forest official said.
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