CHITWAN: Water has been released from a canal system to ensure a supply of drinking water for wildlife in Chitwan National Park (CNP) and the Barandabhar area amid rising summer temperatures.
With the increase in heat and the resulting shortage of water sources inside the park, water from the Khageri Canal has been diverted for wildlife use.
According to officials, water has been released into a nine-kilometre stretch of canal from Tikauli to Devnagar. In addition, water has been directed to recharge ponds inside the national park and the Barandabhar corridor.
Kul Prasad Chalise, Chief of the Narayani Lift and Khageri Irrigation Project, said water has been supplied to more than 12 ponds in the area and will continue to be released regularly.
He said the initiative is part of a seasonal effort to address water scarcity during the dry months, when lakes and ponds inside the park often dry up, forcing wildlife to move toward human settlements in search of water.
Authorities said the annual water release helps reduce human–wildlife conflict while supporting conservation efforts.
Chitwan National Park is home to a wide range of wildlife, including one-horned rhinoceros, deer, tigers and bears, along with numerous bird species.
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