Wildlife Safety Boosted With 3 Underpasses On NH-61
A senior forest officer in Nirmal reported that a four-year-old male tiger, designated S12, migrated from the Kagaznagar forest division into Jagtial and was recently detected in Kamareddy forests.
ADILABAD: Three underpasses on NH-61, which runs through the Kawal Tiger Reserve, now provide safe wildlife crossings, especially for tigers. Located near Khanapur, Dimmadurthy, and Mamada in Nirmal district, these underpasses connect the reserve’s forests to the Godavari River belt across Jagtial, Kamareddy, and Nizamabad. Conservationists believe the structures will facilitate tiger movements along the river corridor in the Khanapur assembly constituency and surrounding forest areas while reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions.
A senior forest officer in Nirmal reported that a four-year-old male tiger, designated S12, migrated from the Kagaznagar forest division into Jagtial and was recently detected in Kamareddy forests. Since tigers often disperse to establish new territory after reaching sub-adulthood (ages two to three), officials say the underpasses will allow animals to move freely between the Gangapur and Allampalli areas and the Pembi, Tandra, Kadam, Mamada, and Dimmadurthy forest ranges.
Dimmadurthy range officer T. Srinivas noted that the department has opened a tourism circuit at Thurkam Cheruvu, which is already attracting many visitors. Wild animals, including a five-year-old male tiger named Johny, frequent the reservoir at night to drink. Johny briefly ventured into Nirmal and Pembi before returning to Maharashtra.