In an interesting discovery, forest officials conducting a tiger and co-predator survey in the Hadagarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Keonjhar district of Odisha found Royal Bengal Tiger (RBT) ‘pugmarks’ in the area. The exercise, which was part of an all-India survey, was carried out in various forests in the state in March, and the data collected in currently being analyzed by experts.
“There was no sign of RBTs in Hadagarh sanctuary for the last few years. Therefore, the finding is an interesting development,” said Sangram Keshari Behera, Divisional Forest Officer (wildlife).
He was however cautious about revealing the details of the findings. “Guidelines prohibit detail disclosure of the signs and location as it is likely to endanger the wildlife,” said Behera.
The Hadagarh Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 191.98 sq. km in Baula and Satakosia reserve forests in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts respectively. The sanctuary is also a part of a contiguous land mass that links the Similipal Tiger Reserve with the Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary. Therefore, the Hadagarh sanctuary also forms part of an elephant corridor in the state.
“Tigers are highly-sensitive and secretive animals. Whenever there is any disturbance in the forest, they move to the core area of the forest to hide. However, once the disturbances subside, the young tigers migrate to the peripheral areas of the forest to set up their own colonies,” informs Behera.
“There is also a good population of other animals in the Hadagarh sanctuary like leopards, sloth bears, and deer, which could be another reason for attracting RBTs from Similipal,” he added.
Behera also informs that the department has begun the process of relocating nearly 3,000 local villagers residing in 16 villages inside the sanctuary in order to avoid human-tiger conflicts. He indicated that the villagers have no other alternative but to consent to the new arrangements. However, Behera further added that the forest department has already taken the initiative and begun various confidence building measures in order to facilitate a smooth process of relocation.
“Recently a team of National Tiger Conservation Authority experts visited Hadagarh and other places and found the forest corridor connecting Similipal safe for tiger conservation,” said Behera.
More tiger habitats and more tigers. That is surely the right way to move forward.
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