Tigers get relief and security as human movement reduced in Covid times

ADILABAD: The second wave of Covid pandemic has brought relief and security to tigers in Telangana state as the human movement has largely reduced. Yet, poachers are on the prowl.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has advised officials of tiger reserves and the wildlife sanctuary and reserve forests to keep tourists off tiger reserves in view of the threat of Covid19 spread to animals, especially tigers.

Kawal reserve authorities imposed restrictions on the entry of tourists and other outsiders. Recently, poachers killed a tigress in the forests in bordering Maharashtra at a spot 30km from the Adilabad town.

Poachers have become active in research forest areas during the summer and killed animals including tigers and leopards. The gangs camp at water bodies to trap and kill forest animals when they come down to quench their thirst.

Jannaram DFO Madhavrao said they have received instructions from the NTCA to not allow tourists and others into reserve forests.

He said the NTCA has, in its advisory, said there was the possibility of Coronavirus spreading to animals if human movement is allowed around.

All steps are being taken to prevent outsiders as well as tourists from entering tiger reserves, he said, and added that they are closing the Peddaiah temple near Utla in Dandepalli mandal of Mancherial district.

Tiger movement is found in the old Adilabad district, particularly in Kagaznagar forest division in Komaram Bheem Asifabad district. Tigers are frequently migrating to Telangana from the Thadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve on Maharashtra border region.

A few days ago, three poachers killed a pregnant tigress near Pandharkawada in Maharashtra.

The tigress was a resident of Thippeshwar tiger reserve. The carcass of the female tigress was found burnt and its paws were seen in a cave. Police arrested three persons in this connection.

Forest staff of the old Adilabad district is tracking the movement of tigers especially in the Kagaznagar division bordering Maharashtra.