Tigers burn bright in AP, states census

By U Sudhakar Reddy

The tigers are roaring in different parts of the state, their numbers being significantly up, according to preliminary reports from the ongoing census of the big cats. The reports, based on camera traps and pugmarks, are coming in from different tiger reserves, sanctuaries and national parks to the state’s wildlife wing. Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) alone has so far reported the presence of at least 78 tigers, including cubs. Wildlife officials at Atchampet division reported the presence of 17 tigers, a record of sorts.

These figures exclude Gundla Brahmeswaram Sanctuary. Significantly, while the Centre’s 2010 tiger census drew a blank in Khammam, the ongoing census has deduced the presence of three tigers at Kinnerasani sanctuary of Khammam from pugmarks. The presence of tiger has been found at Papikonda sanctuary, too. Meanwhile, a Gaur wild buffalo’s skeleton found in Chintapally forest area, on the state’s border with Odisha, has given officials hope of locating tigers there. “Only a tiger can kill a Gaur wild buffalo in the food chain, so we suspect the presence of a tiger in this area,” a wildlife official said.

The tiger census, which began on May 1, is going on across the state, barring Chintapally forest in Visakhapatnam, where Maoists have stepped up terror activities of late, according to officials. In Pocharam forest of Medak district, though no presence of tiger was found, wildlife officials found evidence of 12 panthers.

Chief wildlife warden S.V. Kumar said, “We are getting positive results. The consolidated report will be out by the last week of May. We have set up 90 pairs of camera traps in NSTR.” According to Mr Kumar, the camera traps in NSTR are set up in phase-4 monitoring in an area of 400 sq. km. They will be later shifted to other areas, and the monitoring will continue throughout the year in different forest areas. Chief conservator of forests (Project Tiger) A.K. Nayak said: “NSTR received an excellence award from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for effective human resources utilisation for 2010-11. NSTR took help of members of Chenchu primitive tribe for tiger protection and capacity building, besides training in-house staff.” Each monitoring camera costs Rs 18,000.