It’s baby boom at Nagarhole Tiger Reserve in Karnataka. 4 tigress in the reserve gave birth to 3 cubs each in the last one month in the Kalhalla, Sunkadakatte and Nagarhole ranges. Forest department officials are keeping a watch of the mothers and the cubs and also restricting tourist activity in these ranges.
Image courtesy NewsKarnataka
As per the National Tiger Conservation Authority, Karnataka state has 406 wild tigers. Of these 72 tigers live in Nagarhole. While the births are all too welcome, this also raises some concern as the forest officers believe the park has not reached its saturation point.
NTR Director H C Kantharaj says that they have increased safety measures in the reserve but with the 72 tigers spread in an area of 643 sq km. there are bound to be territorial clashes. There have already been instances of tigers making their way to coffee estates and residential areas.
Bandipur Tigers
The Bandipur Tiger reserve that shares its boundaries with Nagarhole is spread in an area of 872 sq. km. Here as well there have been cases of tigers straying outside the park area with 105 tigers living here.
Kantharaj said that coffee estate workers and owners are buying cameras to watch tigers for their safety and as documentary proof. In the wake of the spillover of population, the department has proposed to declare MM Hills and Cauvery wildlife sanctuaries as tiger reserves.
Hopefully, the increase in population of the tigers is lasting and makes way for increased reserve area too in the near future.
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