When the sun climbs over the Western Ghats, the forests of Wayanad turn from emerald havens into dry and dusty landscapes where every drop of water is precious. In Thariyode, deep within the Ladesmith Reserve Forest, the forest department has begun an intervention that merges care, strategy, and survival.
Here, amidst the heat, the shadows of towering trees, and the distant calls of hornbills and elephants, the work is both physical and patient.
Teams have been building check dams across seasonal streams and constructing watchtowers at strategic points. These structures are not for tourists or display; they exist for life itself, guaranteeing that animals can survive the harshest months, when water becomes scarce, and movement across the landscape is dictated by thirst.
Sculpting water in the hills
Across the forest, low check dams slow the flow of water, forming pools that would otherwise disappear under the relentless sun. These pools become lifelines for wildlife. Elephants bend their massive heads to drink, stirring clouds of dust and leaves, while deer and smaller mammals edge cautiously to the water’s fringe.
Across the forest, low check dams slow the flow of water, forming pools that would otherwise disappear under the relentless sun. Photograph: (Serondella)
Even the smallest pools provide an important refuge, where life can gather safely without risking dangerous excursions toward villages.
In the Sugandhagiri section of the Kalpetta Range, the impact is already visible. At dawn, the pools shimmer in the early light, and the sound of dripping water punctuates the forest’s stillness.
At dusk, the forest comes alive with movement as animals return to the water. The check dams not only sustain life but also guide it, keeping wildlife within the forest and easing pressure on nearby human settlements. In this way, water becomes a mediator between humans and the wild.
Watching over the wild
Water alone is not enough. The forest is tinder-dry in summer, and even a single spark can lead to devastation. To meet this challenge, watchtowers have been constructed at high points like Kallumala and Ongalery.
Rising above ridges, streams, and the forest canopy, they offer a commanding view. From these platforms, forest guards can scan vast stretches of land for smoke, movement, or signs of fire, acting long before disaster spreads.
The towers also allow close observation of wildlife patterns, revealing which areas need more support during the dry months. Standing among the treetops, guards witness the forest’s pulse, the delicate rustle of leaves in the morning breeze, the cautious approach of deer to a pool, and the distant trumpeting of elephants. Each tower is essential, providing a lifeline of vigilance over the fragile flow of the forest.
The check dams not only sustain life but also guide it, keeping wildlife within the forest. Photograph: (Realtree)
In Wayanad, where wild corridors are shrinking and climate pressures are growing, the combination of check dams and watchtowers shows that small and thoughtful interventions can make a huge difference.
Life here is fragile but resilient, sustained by water, observation, and an understanding of the land. Even in the heat of the dry season, the forest continues to breathe, to support, and to sustain.
