Hyderabad: A tiger was spotted crossing into Kawal Tiger Reserve in Nirmal district of Telangana from Maharashtra on Sunday, November 17.
The tiger spotted in Nirmal is likely aged six to eight years; it crossed from Kinwat in Maharashtra, likely in search of a mate. It has been spotted by locals in various parts of Nirmal; it was initially spotted in Boath mandal forests in October, the tiger later moved through the forests of Kuntala and Sarangapur mandals.
Its journey brought it across the Hyderabad-Nagpur NH-44 highway today, where it was sighted again within the Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR). Chief Wildlife Warden Elusing Meru confirmed that the tiger is now moving toward the Tiryani area of the reserve.
The tiger’s movement marks a significant event for KTR, which has struggled to sustain a resident tiger population.
Despite being the 41st tiger reserve in the country, created in 2012, and spanning 893 sq km of core area with an additional 1,120 sq km buffer zone, KTR has yet to see permanent habitation by tigers. The reserve has instead witnessed temporary visits by migrating tigers, with the most recent stay being a migrant tiger in the Kaddampeddur range in 2022.
However, KTR’s efforts to sustain a tiger population have been marred by challenges, including the poaching of two tigers in 2018. Since then, no tiger has taken up permanent residence in the reserve.
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