The Tiger Talk

On International Day of the Tiger, Lamakaan presented an interactive session with Imran Siddiqui, senior research biologist at Wildlife Conservation Society-India Programme on July 28.

Imran showcased the hard work being done in AP/Telangana by WCS-India and local NGO Hyticos (Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society) along with Forest Department for conservation of tigers.

He said that NSTR is a tremendous story where tiger recovery has happened thanks to successive field directors Rahul Pandey and Sarvanan who undertook lot of pains to regain the glory of Nallamalla hills.

He said that Hyticos works on three fronts - Research and Monitoring, Conservation Action and Outreach and Awareness.

Speaking on the occasion Imran said, “WCS-India is monitoring tigers in over 6000 sqkm in Telangana and AP, and they recently concluded the first ever tiger occupancy survey covering all of the Eastern Ghats of the two states with an area coverage of 22,000 sqkm.

The Papikondalu landscape was uncovered when staff was threatened by local naxal groups. This survey revealed that tigers have moved beyond NagarjunasagarSrisaillam tiger reserve, Gundlabrameshwaram Wildlife Sanctuary into Produttur and further to Kadapa divisions.”

Imran also expressed concerns about the clearances being given to projects in identified tiger corridors at Adilabad District where female tiger is known to be breeding.

“In Telangana concerns were raised about Wildlife Management that is badly hit due to district bifurcation, Haritha Haram programme and reorganisation of Forest Department. Although new posts were sanctioned there was apprehension raised about the state and future of wildlife and tigers in Telangana,” he adds.

Imran Siddiqui elaborates, “Haritha Haram has derailed Wildlife work as entire department is busy in seed collection, nursery and plantations, which is a typical work of forestry wing in any state. The recent bifurcation has dissolved the wildlife divisions and has been converted into territorial divisions.

District bifurcation has also made District forest officers less powerful as they are reporting to the District collector.

The District collectors mandate people welfare which sometimes is different from enforcement job of foresters. Every week there are two video conferences mainly on Haritha Haram and other meetings at the Collectorate.”