Marayur (Idukki): The lack of rain in Marayur has created a major crisis in the sandalwood forests. Starving bisons are uprooting sandalwood trees and feeding on their leaves and tender branches.

Hundreds of sandalwood trees, both young and mature, have been uprooted by bisons in the Nachivayal Sandalwood Reserve under the Marayur forest range. Most of the trees damaged are young ones.

Sandalwood trees that have not reached full maturity cannot be put up for auction, causing losses to the Forest Department.

The wild bisons have been turning to sandalwood trees for food as the undergrowth has disappeared due to the intense heat.

Marayur has gone without rain for months. Drought and extreme heat cause moisture in the soil to disappear quickly. Small plants in the undergrowth, whose roots do not penetrate as deeply as those of large trees, are drying up and dying. This has led to the disappearance of the undergrowth.

Forest fires are also destroying the undergrowth. The spread of invasive plants is another problem. With little food available in the forest, other wild animals are also venturing into human settlements.

Lack of food a major problem

Every year, around 3 to 5 per cent of sandalwood trees are lost after being uprooted by wild bisons, drying up or being broken and brought down by strong winds.

This year, the drought has intensified due to the absence of rain. Sandalwood is an evergreen species. When other food sources become scarce, bisons uproot sandalwood trees to eat their bark and leaves.

— Abju K. Arun, Range Forest Officer, Marayur