Pandharkawda Wildlife Division transferred to MTR
| Date :02-Apr-2020 |
Special Correspondent ;
Pandharkawda Wildlife Division in Yavatmal district consisting of Tipeshwar and Painganga Wildlife Sanctuaries has now been transferred to Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) as unified area for effective management of forest and wild animals. The existing area of MTR in Amravati district is 2,700 km and now its area has gone to 3,248 km by including Tipeshwar (148 km) and Painganga (400 km) as unified area of the tiger reserve. Dr Ravikiran Gowekar, Chief Conservator of Forest and Field Director, Pench Tiger Tiger Reserve, who was controlling Pancharkawda Wildlife Division so far, said that Forest Department had relocated two villages - Tipeshwar and Maregaon - in Tipeshwar sanctuary during 2012-14.
The officials adopted best conservation practices that resulted in presence of two tigers, including two tigresses in 2015-16. now, the number has again gone up to 17, including three tigers, five tigresses, nine sub-adults and some cubs, he added. A team of Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, had radio-collared three tigers for undertaking a project to study movement of the carnivores. It is interesting to note that CI sub-adult tiger have crossed a distance of 3,000 km by covering Telangana, Marathwada during last one year and settled again in Dnyanganga sanctuary.
It was observed that this was first tiger from Vidarbha that entered in Marathwada. Similarly, C3 sub-adult strayed towards Andhra Pradesh and came back to Tipeshwar to settle. Moreover, the team had tranquilised two sub-adults of T2 tigress a couple of months ago for treatment as they were attacked by a porcupine with its quills. Dr Gowekar pointed out that tiger conservation was made successful on the basis of Landscape level Management.
The officials urged National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for getting more funds for management of tigers in the nearby Pandharkawda Territorial Division and Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra area in Yavatmal district. Moreover, the department organised study tours o regional level officers of Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana State. The department installed camera traps in the areas of movement of tigers and collect data. Tipeshwar sanctuary has now become a preferred destination for tourists with sighting of tigers and natural beauty.