Threat of forest fire ends due to intermittent rains

Intermittent rains in south Karnataka bring relief to Bandipur and Nagarhole tiger reserves, extinguishing forest fire threats.

Intermittent rains over the last few days have brought much-needed respite to the south Karnataka region, including Bandipur and Nagarhole tiger reserves.

The rainfall has helped rejuvenate the vegetation and cool the parched landscape, which is witnessing fresh offshoots of vegetation and undergrowth. For the forest department, the rains have come as a sigh of relief as it has stomped out any further threat of forest fire during the current year.

Senior officials in both Bandipur and Nagarhole said that the fire season was over in the first or second week of April due to unseasonal rains that lashed the forests during that month. But intermittent rains since then have helped in forest regeneration.

The authorities have disbanded the services of the temporary watchers who were recruited to keep a watch on the outbreak of forest fires.

“This year, the threat lasted less than two months, and the fire season has been incident-free with respect to Bandipur,” said Prabharakan, Deputy Conservator of Forests and Director, Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

While it is customary to retain the services of the temporary watchers till the end of April or the first week of May, early rains have helped make a transition to the relatively cooler climes from the searing heat of February and March in India’s one of the most fire-prone wildlife habitats.

“Apart from stomping out the threat of wildfires, the rains have ensured that there is adequate water in the national parks, as the waterholes have also been replenished, Mr. Prabharakan said. The early end to fire season and intermittent rains since then will facilitate quicker ecological recovery of the wildlife habitat,” he added.