Tigers roar in Andhra Pradesh: Census

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy

Intermediary findings of census of big cats in the State reveal that the tigers are roaring, showing a positive growth in numbers. The reports based on camera 
traps and pug marks coming in from tiger reserves, sanctuaries and national parks to State wild life wing have some big surprises too.
 In Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger reserve so far the reports found that there could be around 78 tigers including cubs. Wild life officials Atchampet division alone had shown 17 tigers including cubs which is a record sort of number. The figures are excluding the Gundla Brahmeswaram sanctuary area.

 In another significant finding three tigers were found in Kinnerasani sanctuary of Khammam and officials have lifted pug marks. In 2010 census Centre declared that there 

are no tigers in Khammam.  In Papikonda sanctuary too presence of tiger is identified. A Gaur wild buffalo skeleton was found in Chintapally forest area of Andhra Orissa Border which indicated that there could be the present of tigers. “Tiger can only kill a Gaur 

wild buffalo in the food web so we are suspecting a presence of tiger in this are,” said a wilfe official. The tiger census exercise has began on May 1 across the State. The census work is in full swing all parts of the State except in Chintapally forest area in Vishakapatnam where Maoists are resorting to burning of vehicles recently. Chief Wild Life Warden Mr S V Kumar said ,’we are getting positive results of significant presence of tigers. The consolidation report will be out by May last week. The due date given is May 25. We have set up 90 pairs of camera traps in NSTR,” In an area of 400 square kilometers as part of intensive data collection the camera traps are set up in  NSTR in phase-4 monitoring of the area. The camera traps will be later shifted to other areas and the monitoring will continue through out the year in different forest area.

In Pocharam forest area of Medak district though there is no presence of tigers,  the wild life officials found the evidence for 12 panthers.  Forest officials are taking the help of Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society and Wild Life Institute of India for carrying out the census.
Chief Conservator of Forests(project tiger) Mr A K Nayak said ,” NSTR has received an 
excellence award from National Tiger Conservation Authority for effective human resources 
utilization for 2010-11. NSTR was utilizing Chenchu primitive tirbals for tiger 
protection and capacity building apart from training in house staff,”
Each camera used would cost Rs 18,000 and the money for census is funded by NTCA of the 
Ministry of Forest and Environment.