BANKE: Drying up of water sources has posed a threat to wildlife at Banke National Park. Lack of water in rivulets, ponds, lakes and wetlands is proving dangerous to the existence of wildlife.

According to Yubaraj Regmi, Chief Conservation officer at Banke National Park, water scarcity has accelerated the movement of animals outside their habitat in search of drinking water. This has also led to an increase in the human-animal clash incidents.

The national park which was established nine years ago -- for expansion of the habitat of tigers -- is now home to 21 wild cats.

The non-swimming animals of the park like deer, boar, antelope, leopard, bear, among others require a large quantity of water for drinking. However, only 26 artificial water ponds have been constructed in the national park which is stretched over the area of 550 square kilometres.

According to the National Park, the territory requires at least 55 ponds to provide drinking water to the wildlife of the park. In the winter season, the water sources dry up which has caused trouble for animals to consume water.

Water from the canal of Sikta Irrigation which flows through the National Park is not fit for drinking for the animals. There are several instances that small animals have drowned and died in the canal.

Regmi informed that the National Park is jointly carrying out a study with the irrigation project for the construction of structures fit for water consumption by the animals.