Surveyors to hotfoot it to tiger territory

‘Occupancy Survey’ is aimed at helping the government focus better on conservation efforts

The survey is expected to generate accurate and precise data across 15,000 square kilometres of Telangana’s forests, giving details about the tiger’s presence in forests spawning from around the Kawal reserve to Papikondalu.– FILE PHOTO: S. HARPAL SINGH

In a bid to lay a roadmap for future tiger conservation in the State, the Telangana government is set to embark on a multi-faceted survey of its forests.

The survey is expected to generate accurate and precise data across 15,000 square kilometres of Telangana’s forests giving details about tiger’s presence in forests spawning from around Kawal reserve to Papikondalu that extends into neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

The government gave its nod last month to the survey proposed by the Wild Conservation Society, India.

According to biologist Imran Siddiqui working with Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society (Hyticos) and WCS, the survey, called ‘Occupancy Survey’, is aimed at helping the government better focus on conservation efforts. Karnataka had carried out a similar survey in the past.

“Within the very large forest areas, the survey can inform us where exactly conservation needs to be focussed. The entire area is divided into grids of 200 square kilometres, which would be sampled on foot. In high tiger density areas, intensive monitoring can be taken up,” Mr. Siddiqui said.

The survey can take about six months to complete.

A.P. to follow suit

It was learnt that the survey was also proposed to be taken up in Andhra Pradesh and the government’s formal approval is awaited. In A.P, nearly 20,000 square kilometres of forest area would be covered. Among other things, the survey is expected to shed light on the habitat in corridors between Seshachalam Hills and Nallamalla Forest, and the region covered by Papikondalu forests extending well into Visakhapatnam district.

WCS proposed that survey would cover about 40 kilometres in every grid to collect field data including historic data pertaining to the big cat and nine other species including Leopard, Dhole (Asiatic Wild Dog), Guar, Sambar, Chital, four-horned antelope, Chinkara (Indian gazelle) and Black Buck. Additionally, the survey will also gather data about scavengers including Hyena, Jackal and Vulture. “The tiger’s habitat is often bio-diversity rich. Hence if the tiger is conserved, this will essentially save other species too,” Mr. Siddiqui added.