19 spotted deer released in Chennur corridor to feed tigers in Kawal

District Forest Officer Shiv Aasheesh Singh and Mancherial Forest Divisional Officer Vinay Kumar Sahu released the deer

Mancherial: Forest officials released 19 spotted deer in Chennur corridor, situated in Mancherial Forest Range, as part of development of the Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) on Wednesday.

District Forest Officer Shiv Aasheesh Singh and Mancherial Forest Divisional Officer Vinay Kumar Sahu released the deer in the corridor to develop KTR, as per instructions of Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Mohan Chandra Pargaien and KTR field director S Shantharam. Officials said the deer were meant for feeding the tigers inhabiting the reserve.

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Singh said the deer were released in the corridor as part of prey augmentation measures. It was a continuous process. A survey was carried out in the corridors of the reserve to assess the prey base and habitat recently. Deer and other herbivores from forests that have them in excess would be sent to the tiger corridors that need the prey.

Created in 2012, KTR is a home to a host of wild animals including tigers, leopards, wolves, wild dogs, spotted deer, wild cats, Indian gaurs, foxes, blue bulls, wild pigs, mongooses, Sambar deer, etc. Core zone of the reserve is spread over 893 sq km, while the buffer zone spans 1,120 sq km covering forests of the four districts, Adilabad, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Nirmal and Mancherial.

Mancherial Forest Range Officer G Rathnakar Rao, DyFRO Sagarika and FBOs were present.