Kawal Tiger Reserve

Kawal Tiger Reserve

• The worrisome man­animal conflict in the Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) on account of water seems to be a thing of the past. There was no incident of wild animals straying into human habitations for water last year and it would hold good for the current season too as there is enough water for them to tide over the harsh summer in the Reserve, which is spread over 893 sq km of core area and 1,122 sq km of a buffer. 
• The Reserve covers areas in Adilabad, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, and Nirmal districts in Telangana
• Water will be available for a comparatively longer period in natural bodies, thanks to a prolonged monsoon and also the intensified efforts of the Reserve management in making it available through artificially created water holes. There is water still flowing in the Kadem canal, which cuts through the KTR core area and the recent release in the Saraswati canal from the Sri Ram Sagar Project also resulted in water being available from Khanapur in Nirmal district to Luxettipet in Mancherial. 

Reason for creation of water holes

• The high point of the construction of artificial water holes this season is the huge saucer pits, 5 m in diameter, meant for the large herds of bison. As many as 22 of these, each with a capacity to hold a tanker full of water, have been constructed at strategic locations in Mancherial, Jannaram, and Kadem in addition to the existing ones which are half the size
• Bison are large animals and move in herds of 15 to 18 requiring enormous quantum of water. The larger saucer pits will meet that requirement

About KAWAL TIGER RESERVE

Kawal Tiger Reserve is located at Jannaram Mandal of Mancherial District (Old Adilabad district) in the Telangana state of India. Govt of India declared Kawal wildlife sanctuary as Tiger Reserve in 2012. The reserve is the oldest sanctuary in the northern Telangana region of the state. It is well known for its abundant flora and fauna. This sanctuary is the catchment for the rivers Godavari and Kadam, which flow towards the south of the sanctuary.

Tiger reserve status

It was listed as a tiger reserve in April 2012. In this regard, habitat development is undertaken with the release of 150 cheetahs as a prey population. To check to poach new check posts have been created. Traditional sources of water were improved.

Source: The Hindu