Signs of Tigers Moving Back into Seshachalam Forests from Nallamala

 Tirupati: After decades of absence, tigers may be moving back to the Seshachalam forests, with the big cats being sighted on camera traps.

Seshachalam had once been a thriving habitat for tigers, before they shifted to the adjoining Nallamala range. With a dedicated corridor put in place linking the Seshachalam and Nallamala range forest ranges, officials believe the predators are on way to reclaim their old territory, marking a major milestone in Andhra Pradesh’s conservation efforts.

Folklore, legends and forest department records indicate tigers had once part of the Seshachalam forests. The last documented sighting dates back to the Mamanduru area between 1985 and 1990. However, according to forest officials, a tiger had recently captured on camera traps in the Chitvel forest of Kadapa district, part of the Seshachalam range. Officials said the animal has been seen moving both during the day and night, confirming its free movement.

“We have evidence of at least one tiger and signs of two or three more being present in these forests,” Chitvel range officials said. About 30 cameras have been deployed in the area to track the movement of tigers.

The development, foresters say, is linked to the success of Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), the country’s largest, where the population of tigers has grown steadily from 47 in 2018 to 77 in 2023. Current scientific assessments suggest the number may now be close to 90. “As populations increase, pressure builds up naturally on tigers to disperse. Tigers are exploring adjoining habitats. Seshachalam is turning out to be one of the key destinations,” a senior forest official pointed out.

Aiding this movement is a corridor connecting Nallamala and Seshachalam forests created five years ago. The corridor passes through Nellore, Kurnool, Kadapa and Chittoor districts. It links Gundla Brahmeswaram, Lankamala and Sri Venkateswara wildlife sanctuaries. The rising tiger activity in Lankamala and on the fringes of Seshachalam is being seen as proof that the corridor is beginning to serve its purpose.

Forest officials said efforts are underway to make the corridor safer. Plans are in place to build elevated corridors and underpasses at 12 critical points along highways that cut through the tiger corridor. The matter had recently been reviewed at a high-level meeting in Dehradun. “Proposals have been submitted for underpasses to prevent elephants and tigers from getting involved in road accidents,” a senior official said.

The tiger corridor, however, faces a major hurdle, as it passes through areas prone to red sanders’ smuggling and poaching. To address these risks, forest officials are upgrading surveillance with solar-powered cameras and alert systems to prevent both accidents and man-made conflicts.

“If plans proceed as scheduled, the corridor will be fully functional by next year, paving the way for tigers to safely move into the Seshachalam range,” a Tirupati division forest officer stated.

- Corridor linking Nallamala and Seshachalam shows signs of success as a big cat caught on camera on the fringes of the Seshachalam.

- Tiger population in NSTER increased, creating natural pressure for dispersal into adjoining habitats like Seshachalam.

- Forest officials say signs indicate two to three more tigers may be dispersing into these forests from Nallamala

- Plans are underway to build underpasses and elevated corridors along highways to ensure safe animal crossings.

- Officials caution against threats from poaching, red sanders smuggling, and road accidents, stressing the need for strong surveillance.