Applications are particularly high from Neredigonda, Kupti and Patnapur areas, where there has been no tiger movement.
Adilabad: Increased movement of migrated tigers in certain forest areas and their fringes has led to a noticeable decline in incidents of standing crop damage by wild boars and neelgai, as many of these animals have fallen prey to tigers, forest officials said.
According to officials, a study has found that tigers are feeding more on wild boars, resulting in a reduction in their population and, consequently, a drop in crop damage incidents near forest areas.
In contrast, petitions seeking compensation for crop damage caused by wild boars remain high in villages located farther away from forests in Boath mandal. Applications are particularly high from Neredigonda, Kupti and Patnapur areas, where there has been no tiger movement.
Boath forest range officer Thodishetti Pranay told Deccan Chronicle that incidents of standing crop damage caused by wild boars have declined significantly in Jeedipalli, Sonala, Pardi, Kategaon, Nigini and Marlapalli villages of Boath mandal, where the movement of two tigers has been recorded.
He said the two tigers, which have been moving in the forests near these villages for the past two months, are hunting wild boars, which are relatively easy prey. Tigers also hunt neelgai, which are present in good numbers in the area. Wild boars and neelgai, he said, cause extensive damage to standing crops, unlike deer. He added that around 12 leopards are also present in the Boath area and hunt wild boars and monkeys.
“Tigers generally hunt alpha male wild boars, which are physically strong and play a key role in reproduction. This helps control the wild boar population in parts of the Boath forest area,” Pranay said.
Forest officials described the reduction in crop damage as a positive sign linked to tiger movement. They said tigers migrate into the Boath forest area of Adilabad district during the winter season in search of new territory or mates from Kinwat and the Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. The tigers usually roam the Boath forests for a prolonged period before moving towards the Kadam and Pembi forests in Nirmal district.
