Tigers on the prowl in Nallamala forest
Atmakukru (Kurnool): The biggest tiger sanctuary in the country, Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), spread in 6,000 sq. kms in five districts has, of late, been witnessing a significant growth in the number of big cats.
The animal census has been taken up from May 1 in the NSTR by the Atmakuru forest division. In the last year's census it was calculated that 86 tigers were moving around in the Nallamala forest spread in Kurnool, Prakasam, Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda and Guntur districts. The officials counted 28 tigers in the limits of Atmakuru division alone.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) noticed that half of the tiger population in the NSTR was moving around in Atmakuru division. The animal census which would be concluded by May 10 this year has been giving priority to the tiger census. It is expected that the number of tiger cubs would be ten at least.
Atmakuru divisional forest officer Mohmad Divan Moiuddin went on foot in the forest and observed the tiger movements and mode of counting tigers.
He said that the tiger population has been growing due to the various factors like providing natural environment to the tigers, handing over responsibility of tracking tigers to the Girijan Chenchus.
He said that anti-poaching squad and striking force teams have been on duty round the clock to protect the tigers. 'The actual number of tigers would be announced by the end of month after analyzing pug marks and photographs collected through automatic camera trap system in the biodiversity lab, ' he said.
The census drive is also aimed at collecting the data of other animals ' both carnivorous and herbivorous, he said. Assistant Conservator of Forest of Atmakukru division PAdmaja, Forest Ranger Dharma Rakshit and other staff also participated in the census in the Atmakuru division.
News Posted: 9 May, 2013
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