Mancherial: Another tiger has entered forests of Nelwai, may be in search of food and safe shelter. But, it has literally braved the threat of poaching as well. A three-year-old male tiger, which had migrated from Maharashtra, ended up being electrocuted in the similar wild, seven months ago. The question arises now is: “Can forest officials save this big cat, at least?”
According to authorities of the Forest Department, a tiger has been moving in Nakkalapelli, Baddepalli, Nelwai and Bavanapalli forests for two months. It is believed to have migrated to Nelwai forests from Tadoba Tiger Reserve (TTR) of Chandrapur district in Maharashtra, following availability of water in Nelwai irrigation project and prey animals here.
Recently, the carnivore had killed two bulls belonging to a farmer of Bavanapalli village within a gap of four weeks, terrorising rural folks. Some villagers informed about the wild animal’s attacks on their cattle to officials concerned. Accordingly, CCTV camera traps were set up to track its movement in the woods.
Evidently, the endangered mammal’s movement was recorded on CCTV camera traps fixed in Nelwai Forest Range on May 29. “Steps were taken to protect the tiger aged around two. Rural folks were advised not to harm it and not to enter its habitation. We are tracking movement of the tiger with the help of camera traps,” said V Tirumal Rao, In-charge Forest Divisional Officer of Chennur Forest Division.
On December 3 last, the carcas of a tiger, named after Phalguna-II, which had also migrated from TTR, was exhumed by forest officials in Pinnaram-Edagatta forests of Kotapalli Forest Range. It was electrocuted when it accidentally touched the electrical trap set by hunters of wild animals in November. Four tribals, including a juvenile, were arrested for allegedly involving in poaching of the big cat.
The country’s second largest sanctuary, TTR houses around 100 big cats. Now and then, some of them enter vegetation of KumramBheemAsifabad and Mancherial districts via Sirpur (T), Bejjur, Vemanapalli and Kotapalli forests due to favourable conditions for inhabiting. However, they are, sometimes, poached by hunters.
