Humans are not the only ones suffering due to the severe drought prevailing in Karnataka, animals are becoming victims of it as well, particularly aquatic creatures. Three fully-grown crocodiles have been found dead in Krishna River in Bagalkot district in the last 12 days due to lack of food.
A forest official threw light on the ongoing man-animal conflict in Karnataka that has been reeling under severe drought for the past three years, with over 170 taluks affected this time around.
“The river water has accumulated in small pits in the river bed where crocodiles and other aquatic creatures have taken shelter. With farmers drawing water for their land from these pits using motors, crocodiles and other aquatic creatures are deprived of their lifeline,” he explained.
On Friday, a 13.4-feet-long crocodile, weighing 365 kgs was found dead on the banks of the Krishna River near Gudadinni Village in Bilagi taluk, Bagalkot district.
Veterinarians said the crocodile died due to unavailability of food and water as the river has dried up due to the drought. According to forest officials a giant crocodile was found dead near the old bridge at Korti Village on May 1, while another died on May 9 near Gudadinni Village.
Veterinary doctor Dr Basavaraj, who conducted the post-mortem said that the crocodiles were facing food scarcity due to lack of water in the river.
“They are coming to the banks of the river in search of food. But, being cold-blooded animals, crocodiles are unable to bear the temperature which is as high as 40 degrees Celsius. As a result, their body temperature goes up and the crocodiles are dying due to multi-organ failure,” he explained.
According to official sources Krishna River dried up completely after 3.27 Thousand Million Cubic Feet of water was released to Narayanpur reservoir last month. “Moreover, deficient rain in the region too has added to the woes,” he added.
Bilagi Range Forest Officer Hanumantha Doni said that five crocodiles had recently entered the sugarcane fields on the banks of the river in search of food and they have been rescued.
He said, “The carcass of the crocodile found dead on Friday was buried in the river bed on Saturday after a post-mortem.”
However, there is a ray of hope for both humans and animals as water resources department officials have confirmed that Maharashtra has agreed to release water from Koyna reservoir to Krishna River, which might help save humans as well as these endangered species from dying.