Shivvaram Sanctuary could become major tourist spot: Experts

Experts from the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust visited Shivvaram Crocodile Sanctuary in Telangana, home to around 100 freshwater crocodiles. Officials plan to develop ecotourism, including trekking and visitor amenities, while promoting conservation of crocodiles, otters, and endangered bird species

Mancherial: Proposals to develop the scenic crocodile sanctuary at Shivvaram village in Jaipur mandal have long remained on paper, but a visit by a two-member team from the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology (MCBTH), Tamil Nadu has revived public hopes.

The sanctuary, spread across 36.29 sq km, was established in 1978 for the conservation of freshwater or marsh crocodiles. Around 100 crocodiles currently inhabit the area. The sanctuary also supports otters, many other wild animals and aquatic bird species, offering significant potential to grow into a major tourist attraction in the district and the State.

In previous years, officials considered introducing a full-fledged boat ride facility, constructing cottages for tourist accommodation and providing basic amenities. In 2023, then trainee IAS officer P Gowthami designed a 2.2 km guided trekking track within the sanctuary.

However, development proposals have remained in cold storage due to a fund crunch. Officials said efforts would soon be taken up to convert the sanctuary into a major tourist destination. They added that expert consultations were underway to prepare plans and create amenities for visitors.

During the latest field visit, Dr Shafeeq Ahmed, assistant director and scientist at the centre, and trustee Ganesh Muthaiah assessed the sanctuary’s habitat conditions. They expressed interest in working with the Forest Department on future conservation efforts and said they were unaware that Telangana had such a rich sanctuary.

Ahmed observed that the sanctuary offered a conducive habitat and said they were impressed by the sightings of otters and endangered bird species. The team said a meeting would be arranged with the centre’s representatives to devise strategies for crocodile conservation and ecotourism development in the near future.

How to reach

The sanctuary can be reached from Mancherial town via the Indaram–Shivvaram route, which has a double-lane road till Pounoor, or through the Chennur–Asnad–Somanpalli stretch. It is located around 40 kilometres from the Mancherial district centre.