Forest Department Plans New Tiger Corridor To Kawal
ADILABAD: The forest department plans to develop another tiger corridor from Tippeshwar Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra to Kawal Tiger Reserve through Bheempur, Boath and Kadam river region forests.
The main purpose of creating the corridor is to provide safe passage to tigers migrating to Adilabad in search of mates during the mating season (November to January), enabling them to enter the Kawal Tiger Reserve and eventually become resident tigers there.
Additional PCCF Ratnaker Jouhari told Deccan Chronicle that the department is creating awareness among local farmers to ensure that no harm is done to the two tigers currently moving in the Gollaghat-Thamsi area of Bheempur mandal in Adilabad district.
He said efforts are on to strengthen the forest cover by connecting fragmented areas between the two forest areas to create continuous routes for tigers entering Kawal. If necessary, land will be acquired to ensure continuous forest cover and bypass villages without human intervention. Within the scope of the Compensatory Afforestation plan, afforestation is carried out to close forest gaps.
“A Tiger Cell has been set up to monitor tiger movements around the clock and take safety measures, while district officials will share real-time updates on tiger sightings,” he said. Jouhari added that plans have been made to develop ecotourism projects in various parts of Adilabad to preserve biodiversity, create employment for local youth and generate revenue for the state.
Adilabad DFO Prashant Bajirao Patil said tigers in Tippeshwar Tiger Reserve have been migrating to Adilabad by crossing the Penganga river for the last four years. He said awareness programs were being carried out to farmers to ensure that they do not harm tigers, especially during the cotton picking season, and to educate them on measures to prevent human-animal conflict.
He expressed hope that Kawal Tiger Reserve will be able to spot tiger cubs soon as both male and female tigers move in this area during the mating season.
High density of tigers in Tippeshwar Tiger Reserve and Penganga Wildlife Sanctuary has caused some tigers to migrate to Adilabad in search of new territory, forest officials said.
The ministry is intensifying monitoring of tiger movement in these areas and taking measures to ensure their safety and protection.
Additional PCCF Ratnaker Jouhari, along with Adilabad DFO Prashant Bajirao Patil and Adilabad FRO Gulab Singh, inspected the plantation areas and city park at Mavala and interacted with VSS members at Chinchughat on Saturday.
