Migrant tiger disappears from Kawal Reserve radar, concerns officials

The tiger moved from Tadoba Andhari Tigers Reserve of Chandrapur in Maharashtra initially entered Kaghaznagar forest division before drifting towards Asifabad division a few weeks ago.

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Whereabouts of a male tiger which moved into Kawal Tiger Reserve have not been traced for the past 10 days, worrying officials of the forest department.

The tiger moved from Tadoba Andhari Tigers Reserve of Chandrapur in Maharashtra initially entered Kaghaznagar forest division before drifting towards Asifabad division a few weeks ago. It was the first tiger to enter the reserve after a gap of two years. The arrival of the tiger cheered the forest officials.

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CCTV camera traps were installed to record movement of the big cat in the reserve which has a rich prey base and is conducive for tigers. Steps were taken to ensure safety and smooth stay for the tiger. Awareness was created among locals over protection of the tiger. People were requested not to harm it.

“The movement of the tiger was not recorded on CCTV cameras in last two weeks. Its location could not be found by trackers. The pugmarks were last recorded at Sangvi village in Kerameri mandal. It may be residing in caves of Shankarloddi village,” a forest official predicted.

Named S-12, the tiger stayed in the forests of Kaghaznagar division three months back. It crossed the busy national highway 363 in Asifabad mandal and was sighted near open cast mining projects of SCCL at Kairiguda village in Rebbena mandal. It then drifted into forests of Tiryani mandal from where it strayed into the core of the reserve.

Kawal is the 41st reserve of the country created in 2012. The core of the reserve spreads in 893 sq km, the buffer zone spans 1,120 sq km. The reserve registered poaching of two tigers in 2018. No tiger has resided in the reserve since then. However, a migrant tiger stayed in Kaddampeddur range for a brief period in 2022.

The national tiger conservation authority in the status of tigers-2022 pointed out that no tigers were detected in the reserve except for a few individuals in Kaghaznagar forest division.