Foresters to strengthen tiger corridor linking NSTR to Seshachalam

VIJAYAWADA: The AP foresters would strengthen the notified tiger corridor connecting the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve to Seshachalam by providing the requisite amenities like water holes, vegetation and availability of herbivores.

This decision was taken in view of tigers straying into human habitations in fringe villages abutting forests and attacking cattle.

They have identified potential tiger habitats in Proddatur, Kadapa and Tirupati areas, these having connectivity to the tiger corridor, and also found NSTR with Lankamalleswara and other protected areas like Sri Venkateswara National Park and Sanctuary, which may become viable habitats for tigers in future.

The tiger population in the state is estimated to be 76, with 72 of them located in NSTR and two each in north coastal Andhra region and Papikonda National Park. This assessment has been made on the basis of camera traps. This number is higher from the earlier estimated number in the range of 58-68.

The tigers are coming out of forests in search of water and prey. In the process, they are entering human habitations and targeting the cattle.

Recently, in the Atmakur area, three kills of cattle were found, causing panic among the local villagers. Though the forest officials pay compensation as per norms to the villagers who lost their cattle, they want a permanent solution to ensure that the tigers remain in the tiger reserve and use the tiger corridor to move to the habitats having good prey population and availability of water.

Tiger movement has been increasing. They were visiting more locations in the tiger corridor area of Kadapa division from 2019 to 2022.

Officials said tigers were found at eight locations falling under Proddatur/Kadapa division in 2019-20 and by 2020-21, this rose to 12 locations. In 2021-22, they were found in 11 locations, of which two were new, like Yelugubanti Sela and Kothabavi. This indicates that they are moving from place to place in search of food and water.

Additional principal chief conservator of forests Shantipriya Pande said, “There is a need to strengthen the notified tiger corridor connecting NSTR to Seshachalam as part of our efforts to conserve and protect the tiger population even for future. The growth of tiger population indicates availability of potential habitats equipped with prey population and water and no anti-social activities.”