Ghorpad village, a hotspot for wildlife movement

 

CONSERVATION of wildlife corridors is a major concern for the State Forest Department. However, proper management of corridors has become a big challenge as human interference has increased drastically in such corridors. Katlabodi to Chameli wildlife corridor under the Kondhali forest range in Katol tehsil, is a perfect example of high human interference.The Forest Department had declared the area a wildlife corridor over a decade ago, but due to construction of highways on both sides of the corridor, wildlife movement has shifted to Ghorpad village situated about 4 kms from the notified corridor which connects Bor Tiger Reserve (BTR) and Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR). Due to heavy traffic on the roads, wildlife has restricted their movement through the corridor and started frequenting the Ghorpad village. Ghorpad village, situated in Katol tehsil of Nagpur district, has recently garnered attention as a biodiversity hotspot in the region.

 

Located within the picturesque forest area, the village boasts an exceptional abundance of wildlife, diverse species of flora and fauna, making it a safe haven for nature enthusiasts and researchers alike. A recent study conducted by Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, identified Ghorpad village as a rich wildlife corridor which connects BTR and PTR.WII installed camera traps in the forest area and captured movement of Schedule I to IV wild animals listed under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972. “Despite excess movement of wildlife through Ghorpad village, the forest department has allowed tree felling on this parcels of lands for commercial gains,” informed a source. Recent camera trap data from the census of wild animals in Ghorpad village has provided valuable insight into the diversity of wildlife presence. The collected data highlights the presence of an array of fascinating wild animal species that calls the village their home. Some notable species include the elusive Bengal tigers, leopards, Indian wolf, Sambar deer, sloth bear, langur, Malabar hornbil, four-horned antelope, spotted deer, wild boars, nilgais, wild dogs etc. These findings underscore the importance of Ghorpad Village as a crucial habitat for these endangered and protected species. The patches also have scheduled trees like mahua, teak, haldu, etc. which have also been marked for felling. According to the source, “It is the same area where the renowned tiger Bajirao used to inhabit and died in a road accident in 2017 near Bazargaon.”

 

“These dense woodlands serve as a safe passage for various wild animals, facilitating their movement between different ecosystems. Due to excess traffic in the declared corridor between Katlabodi and Chameli section, the animals are using this forest patch for their movement from one forest to another,” said the source. In a recent camera trap photographed movement of sloth bear with her cub, tigresses with their cubs and leopards are using the forest area frequently. Even, the seamless connectivity between Ghorpad village and neighbouring areas has established it as a crucial link in the conservation of biodiversity in the region, said the person. There is a utmost need to protect the forest area and declare it as corridor for proper conservation of flora and fauna, he added.