Illegal Sand Mining Drains Kawal Tiger Reserve Water, Threatens Wildlife

Sand is made of tiny pieces of rock, and it sits at the bottom of streams and small rivers.

In a forest in India called Kawal Tiger Reserve, people are digging up too much sand without permission.

This is a problem because sand helps hold water in the ground, like a big sponge.

When too much sand is taken away, the streams cannot store water.

Because of this, the wild animals in the forest do not have enough water to drink.

So they walk into nearby villages looking for water, and that can damage crops and sometimes hurt people.

Forest workers are trying to stop the illegal digging, which has caused arguments between them and villagers.

Some people believe that supporters of political leaders are doing the digging to make quick money.

Forest officials are also building tanks that catch rainwater to help give wildlife drinking water.

The officials say everyone needs to understand how important sand is so the forest stays healthy for animals and people.