7.7.13

Somewhere in the Srisailam Tiger Reserve....

The gradually rising tiger population in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam tiger reserve project area has put forest conservators in the region on cloud nine. Andhra Pradesh as a whole had reported a decrease in the tiger population in the previous census.
“It is really good news for us as we tracked many cubs moving around Palutla, Tummalabailu, Nekkanti and Kulukula forest beats,” Markapuram divisional forest officer Saravanan said. He explained that all the cubs were active and the big cats seem to have settled down in the wild, thanks to the sustained measures initiated to make the zone comfortable for them. The forest department has now taken steps to grow fodder in around 15 acres to increase the population of grazing animals, which serve as prey to tigers.
The 2011 census had put the number of tigers in the Srisailam project area around 60. This year, the forest officials began the annual census in May and the exercise of counting tiger pugs would go on till mid-August. “As per the latest estimates, we strongly believe that the tiger population would go beyond 75,” said Saravanan, adding that the breeding period for tigers was till April and the gestation period would go on for another three months. Thus, the final count of tigers would be known around mid-August.
Census was conducted at nearly 150 points in the Markapuram division alone and collection of pugmarks is being done with the help of local Chenchu tribals.
In addition to the pugmark collection, CCTV cameras are being used to track tiger movement in a more scientific manner. The forest department has installed CCTV cameras at various habitats in the Nallamala forest near Chinamanthanala, Daddanala, Palutla, Chintala Bailu, Tummalabailu villages.
It was found that the leopard population is also on the rise. In the previous census, 90 to 110 leopards were found in the reserve and the latest information reveals that the numbers could reach 130.
“Normally, leopard population is more than the tiger population and it reflected here too,” said Saravanan. He said tigers have an exclusive territory for movement in which they do not allow leopards to enter and it is very rare for them to have a common habitat.
The Srisailam-Nagarjunasagar Tiger Reserve is spread over Kurnool, Prakasam, Kadapa, Mahbubnagar and Guntur districts.

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