Two breeding tigresses from Maharashtra to be relocated to core area of KTR

 ADILABAD: The Kawal Tiger Reserve would translocate two breeding tigresses into the core area of the Tiger Reserve from bordering Maharashtra. The aim is to make the reserve a permanent habitation for tigers.

Such efforts are being made for the first time for tiger conservation in the Tiger Reserves of Telangana.

The tigers’ population is high in Telangana. Tigers are migrating to forest areas bordering erstwhile Adilabad district but are not staying back. They are returning to their original habitats in Maharashtra.

The authorities at the Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) feel that, normally, male tigers migrate to the tiger reserve for mating later. No tiger movement was noticed in the Kawal Tiger Reserve. Not a single tiger has become a resident tiger there though it was declared as a Tiger Reserve in 2012.

There were instances of tigers migrating to the  Kawal Tiger Reserve. They returned to their original habitat due to disturbances arising out of human and vehicular movements and the low prey base in the past.

KTR field director Vinod Kumar told Deccan Chronicle, “We are preparing a project report aiming to translocate two breeding tigresses into the core area of the tiger reserve from bordering Maharashtra. We are seeking permission and would submit the project report to the National Tiger Conservation Authority  and the Indian Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, soon.”

He said members of the above institutes will visit KTR and identify the place for release of the tigresses as part of translocation. “The prey base has increased to 21 per square km from 11 five years ago in the core area of KTR. We have developed grasslands in the core area suitable for  tiger conservation.”

He said they would release deer into identified locations in the Tiger Reserve whenever they are needed for tiger conservation.

Vinod Kumar said the disturbances in the core area of Kawal Tiger Reserve will come down to an extent with the relocation of Rampur and Maisampet villages.

“There are many obstacles for the tigers’ migration into KTR from bordering Maharashtra and these include crossing of national highways, coal mines, roads and disturbances from human habitations. We are looking for migration of tigers in September and October, the migration time.”

A deer breeding and conservative centre would be inaugurated at the Jannaram and a workshop on grasslands would be held, in which forest officials from Basar, Kothagudem and Warangal circles would take part on September 6. Chief Wildlife Warden of Telangana Lokesh Jayaswal would be the chief guest.