Hyderabad: The number of tigers in Andhra Pradesh has gone up from 45 to 60 in 2016 to 65 to 70 tigers. Of these, 45 to 55 tigers are said to be in the Srisailam tiger reserve. It lost a tiger last year in unexplained circumstances.
The AP forest department has a sanctioned strength of 6,500 pesonnel but has about 3,500 vacancies.
The government has given notification for a few jobs. No recruitment has taken place in 15 years and the department is filled with aged staff. Officials are making a do by hiring outsourcing employees and tribals in the forest area.
Tigers in the Srisailam reserve is spread over Nandyal and Atmakur in Kurnool district and Giddalur and Markapur in Prakasam district.
The department uses tribal youth as base camp watchers and strike force to curb poaching and smuggling activities in the reserve.
Speaking to this newspaper, AP Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (wildlife) D. Nalini Mohan said, “We have about 400 camera traps in the reserve. Special teams are deployed and we use the services of about 500 men to monitor and guard the tigers.”
He said the department had 64 base camps to report suspicious activity inside the forest and 250 tiger trackers.
