A Roaring Success: Big cats come to Adilabad forests

S. Harpal Singh

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  The tiger was caught in one of the camera traps set up in Kagaznagar forest range recently. Photo: By Special Arrangement
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Sighting of three more tigers by villagers bears testimony to the efficacy of the slew of measures initiated by the Forest Department. Within days of receiving information from villagers, a round-the-clock protection plan to safeguard the majestic animals from poachers was initiated. This included establishment of four base camps and deployment of a unit of the strike force in the area.

Conservation in Adilabad can be credited with a rare success thanks to the presence of four tigers, where there was none, in the forests of Sirpur-Kagaznagar, apparently for its excellent prey base and density of trees for security cover. Given the scope, only some thrust is needed, to protect and revive the uniquely pristine forests and environment in Adilabad district which were once famous for supporting a great range of biodiversity.

Though presence of only two tigers in the Sirpur forest range of Kagaznagar Division, and the one in Vemanpalli range, has been confirmed through camera traps, villagers have sighted two more in the jungles of Sirpur-Kagaznagar and one in Mangi forests. If the sightings are found to be correct, it will also prove the efficacy of protection measures initiated by the Forest Department.

“The department is eagerly awaiting the green signal for its proposed plan on tiger protection, including in Kawal Tiger Reserve, from the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Already, coordination between forest officials of Maharashtra and Telangana has begun to keep a close watch on the movement of the big cats in question,” revealed Adilabad Conservator of Forests, T.P. Thimma Reddy.

“The Sirpur tigers, both females, have come from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur of Maharashtra and have marked their territory in our forest which indicates they are here to stay. There is abundant prey in the form of wild boars and spotted deer for them to survive here comfortably,” observed Kagaznagar Divisional Forest Officer M. Siva Prasad as he confirms the presence of tigers.

Protection plan

Within days of receiving information from villagers, a round-the-clock protection plan to safeguard the majestic animals from poachers was initiated. This included establishment of four base camps and deployment of a unit of the strike force in the area.

“Visits of strangers to villages located in the forests are also being monitored closely with the help of police. We have informers reporting every movement of strangers wherever they go,” Mr. Reddy said.

“We will soon enforce speed restrictions on the 10 km Vempalli-Peddabanda stretch on the Kagaznagar-Sirpur road to prevent accidental deaths of wild animals,” Mr. Prasad said. “Sign boards and speedbreakers will be put in place in a week or two,” he added.

The department has lauded the efforts of Kagaznagar Forest Range Officer (FRO) Jagadish Chander Reddy and Sirur in charge FRO S. Venugopal in so far as maintaining vigil was concerned. “The efforts of Forest Beat Officer Banaiah and section officer Pratap Naik are no less,” the DFO said.

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