Rise in animals pug marks gives new hope

Nagarkurnool: In the ongoing census to ascertain the number of herbivorous and carnivorous animals, the Forest officials witnessed large number of pug marks of Tiger and Cheetah in Ambrabad Reservoir. 

They have expressed hope of growing number of Tiger and other wild cat population in Amrabad and Farhabad Tiger reserve forest in the district. 

As part of Tiger census, the District Collector E Sridhar, along with Ambrabad Reserve Forest officials visited Farhabad view point and inspected the survey activities of the forest officials on Tuesday.

According to officials the census which began on Tuesday and will continue for one week up to January 29. “The Forest department has begun their wild life census (counting) and will continue for the next one week. 

As forest officials have indentified large number of pug marks during their initial survey, we are hoping that the Tiger population in the Ambrabad and surrounding reserve forest has increased,” said E Sridhar, District Collector Nagarkurnool, who accompanied the Forest officials to supervise the survey programme. 

As Tigers and other wild life are not easily accessible to Forest officials to count them directly, they usually adopt the pug mark identification method to ascertain the Tiger population in the forest. 

As part of the forest survey to conduct wild animal census in Ambrabad and surrounding reserve forests, the Forest department of Nagarkurnool has decided to set up 214 beats by employing 198 personals. 

“For establishing 214 beats we have decided to employ 198 persons, who will survey an extent of 140 kilometres of forest areas for about a week. Among the total staff employed 75 are students from Forest Academy, while 163 are from various NGOS,” informed Joji, District Forest Officer Nagarkurnool. 

Earlier last year, the Tiger survey conducted by the Forest officials had identified a population of 17 tigers in the Ambrabad Tiger reserve, however with more and more tiger pugs being witnessed this year, the officials are expressing hope that this number will grow more, and it is regarded as a positive sign. 

Based on the tiger pugs, officials have decided to take suitable measures for improving the habitat for the tigers. As Ambrabad is regarded as number one Tiger reserve forest in the country, officials are giving utmost importance to protect the forest area and taking all necessary measures to improve their population.