Elevating the number of protected areas in the country and giving the national animal a little more space to roam freely, Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh has been officially named as the 42nd Tiger Reserve of the country. The area will not have a core area, a buffer zone and will get funding from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to ensure the tigers have a safe new home.
Only Five Vultures remain in Andhra Pradesh
In a shocking revelation the state officials of Andhra Pradesh have found that there are only five vultures left in the state and that too the ones captive at the Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad.
VSPCA Saving Endangered Olive Ridley Turtles
Vishakhapatnam a coastal town in Andhra Pradesh was once known for the abundant nesting grounds of Olive Ridley Turtles along its sea coast. But now the town is gradually losing ground due to increased development, poaching and pollution along the coast line. To save the endangered sea turtles and prevent them from extinction, an organisation Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals (VSPCA) has taken an active role by its rangers, constantly patrolling the beaches, monitoring nesting sites, eggs and their hatchings. By taking a step further the organisation is involving local villagers, fishermen, in the endeavour by employing and educating them to the cause.
Freshwater Crocodiles back from the brink of Extinction in Manjira River
Manjira river is a tributary of Godavari river that flows in three states of India namely – Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Of late the Manjira River running about 60 km from Hyderabad has seen a surge in freshwater crocodile population nearing 300 in number. This is a direct outcome of the efforts put in by the forest officicers to save the species from becoming extinct as the number had alarmingly fallen to less than 4 pairs in 1974.
Jerdon’s Courser: A Precious Rarity
Jerdon’s Courser is extremely rare bird found only in a small part of Andhra Pradesh. Despite being listed as critically endangered by IUCN, there is little that is known about the Jerdon’s Courser. It seems the idiom “Out of sight is out of mind” holds perfectly true for this shy bird. Because the bird is nocturnal and not very keen to publicize its presence, only a handful of people have attempted to know more about this species that is one of the fifty rarest birds of the world. Here is what we do know about it…
Red Alert for Red Sanders, the Rare Red Coloured Timber
A 5 lakh hectares area in Andhra Pradesh, is the only place in the world where one can find the fragrant red-coloured timber known as red sanders. While the tree also called red sandalwood has long been named endangered, illegal felling is making the forest disappear every day.
Efforts made to Save Jerdon’s Courser – One of the World’s Rarest Bird
Jerdon’s Courser is a nocturnal bird found only in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It has been listed among the 50 rarest birds of the world. But sadly the number of this bird is diminishing and in a bid to save it from extinction, the Indian government has now included it in its Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’ (IDWH) scheme.