The fourth cycle of All India Tiger Estimation was conducted during January, 2018 in all the Forest areas of Telangana, both inside and outside Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks and Tiger Reserves. Likewise, this exercise was conducted in all the states in India. The earlier three cycles were conducted in the year 2006, 2010 and 2014. All these three estimation were conducted in the unified state of Andhra Pradesh. This is the first time that, the All India Tiger Estimation is being conducted in Telangana. It was carried from 23rd to 30th June,2018 in the state.
Telangana has two Tiger Reserves i.e., Amrabad Tiger Reserve falling in Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda Districts and Kawal Tiger Reserve falling in Nirmal, Mancherial, Adilabad and KB Asifabad Districts. While Amrabad Tiger Reserve is situated on the banks of river Krishna, the Kawal Tiger Reserve is situated on the banks of river Godavari. These, two Tiger Reserves fall in the Central India Landscape and Eastern Ghats. n the year 2014, the tiger census was conducted for the entire NTSR spread over Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The estimated number of tiger for the Telangana portion of NTSR was 17 and it was 3 for Kawal Tiger reserve. The estimation of tiger for Telangana region was 20 for 2014.
As per the report released today i.e.,on 29.7.2019 on the occasion of Global Tiger Day, the Amrabad Tiger Reserve falling in Nallamaliah Forest Belt including in core and buffer & Kawal Tiger Reserve including core, buffer and corridor combined have a Tiger population of 26 Tigers. Increase in the number of tigers is a great news for the conservationists in Telangana. It could be achieved because of the improved management practices adopted by the staff of forest department wherein they have concentrated on improving the water regime in the forest area and also improving the availability of grass resulting in improving the prey base. Improved protection of forests has helped this cause to a great extent. Support of NGOs helped the department in this respect. Presence of cubs in the both the tiger reserves is very encouraging sign of improvement of the tiger habitat and indicative of the bright future for the tiger populations.
Monitoring Effectiveness Evaluation report 2018 is an indication of the better management practices for both the Tiger Reserve. In respect of Kawal, it moved up from “Fair” to “Good”. In respect of Amrabad Tiger Reserve, it remained in Good category but the overall score is more than 71.09% which is nearer to Very Good category (75%).
CWLW Telangana congratulates all the stakeholders viz. forest department officials, NGOs, villagers living near these tiger reserves who have contributed for this success.
