Large-scale encroachment of forests drives tigers out of Telangana’s Asifabad

Forest officials are requesting rural folks not to occupy forest lands and are digging trenches to prevent encroachment of forest lands

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Three tigers inhabiting the forests of the district for quite a long time migrated to neighbouring districts in recent times, worrying forest officials. While two tigers drifted towards Mancherial district, another tiger strayed into Jagtial district. This has prompted the question why the tigers were forced to leave Asifabad’s forests.

Forest cover, which is shrinking due to encroachment by both non-tribals and aboriginal tribes, is said to be driving the tigers out of the forests of this region, once touted as a safe haven for big cats. The open and large scale encroachment of forest cover is causing the loss of habitat for the tigers.

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“Around 1.60 lakh acres of forest cover out of the total 6 lakh acres was encroached in the district, reflecting the gravity of the menace. While 80,000 acres was occupied by non-tribals over the last few decades, the same quantum of land was encroached upon by tribals. Sustained efforts to conserve the tigers are going futile owing to solely this problem,” a senior forest official regretted.

The officials said that the non-tribals including backward communities, scheduled castes and certain privileged castes were indulging in the encroachment of the forest cover for agriculture. Members of these communities own somewhere between 5 and 20 acres in certain parts. A non-tribal man has 70 acres of land, while another occupies 30 acres in Kagaznagar division alone.

The forest officials are creating awareness among the villagers over the need to protect the wild animals. They are requesting the rural folks not to occupy forest lands. They are digging trenches to prevent encroachment of forest lands. However, the forest cover is being encroached upon by mostly non-tribals. The officials remain helpless even as the precious cover is lost, resulting in migration of tigers to surrounding landscapes in search of territory.

The officials managed to reclaim 1,000 acres of forest land near Itukalapahad village in Sirpur (T) mandal a few years ago. The land was converted into a plantation of tree species. Around 40 tree species were grown in the land, attracting tigers of Maharashtra. It has become a favourite place for tigers from Tadoba Andhari-Tigers Reserve in Chandrapur district as well.