Tuz Khurmatu man constructs a pond to support wildlife during summer

TUZ KHURMATU — In the mountainous Dawda area of Tuz Khurmatu, local resident Hiwa Jasim is leading an initiative to construct a pond aimed at providing water for wildlife and birds during the dry summer season.

The pond, still under construction, measure 1,000 meters in length, 200 meters in width, and is expected to reach a depth of approximately 40 meters when completed.

Speaking to 964media, Hiwa Jasim, who is a member of Kurdish Peshmerga forces, explained, “I have been working on this pond for a week. It will take about a month to finish”

He continued, “In the past, I have built several smaller ponds, but this one is the largest and most significant, positioned at the heart of the Dawda area.”

The pond will rely on rainwater, streams, and rivers to fill up, creating a vital water source for local wildlife.

Hiwa emphasized that once completed, the pond will provide a critical refuge for animals and birds during the scorching summer months, ensuring their survival in an increasingly arid environment.

This initiative is part of a wider community effort to safeguard local wildlife during the harsh summer months. In March 2024, two cousins in the Kifri district made a notable contribution by building a 300-meter-long reservoir, over six meters deep, on their agricultural land. This reservoir serves a dual purpose: it supports crop irrigation while also providing a water source for local wildlife.

Later, in June 2024, volunteers in Belega, a village in the Kirfri district of Garmiyan, worked together to reopen and expand water springs, using shovels to address the challenges posed by extreme heat and drought on wildlife.