Telangana tiger count at 26, up from 20 in 2014: Report

: The total tiger count in two reserves in Telangana has risen to 26 from 20 five years back, according to the All India Tiger Estimation Report 2018.

Telangana has two Tiger Reserves-- Amrabad Tiger Reserve in Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda districts and Kawal Tiger Reserve, encompassing Nirmal, Mancherial, Adilabad and KB Asifabad districts.

The Report, released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on the occasion of World Tiger day, said the tiger population in the country grew from 1,411 in 2006 to 2,226 in 2014 and further increased to 2,967 in the latest census.

Telangana Forest Minister A Indrakaran Reddy welcomed the Report.

In addition to the tiger population of 26 in Telangana, six cubs/sub-adults were also sighted (on camera traps) in both the tiger reserves, a top Forest official said here.

"We have all reasons to be happy. As per the earlier estimation (when Telangana was formed in June 2014) it (tiger population) was 20.

So, now it is 26. It is a good increase," Telangana Principal Chief Conservator of Forests P K Jha told PTI.

He also said that as per the Monitoring Effectiveness Evaluation report 2018, Kawal moved up from 'Fair' to 'Good' category, while Amrabad Tiger reserve remained in the 'Good' category.

The overall score was more than 71.09 per cent, which is nearer to the 'Very Good' category (75 per cent), he said.

He said the rise in tiger population could be attributed to strengthening the tiger reserves in the last 3-4 years and shifting of field directors.

Similarly, increase in the number of tigers was achieved due to better management practices by forest staff, where they improved the water regime and availabilty of grass in the forest areas, which resulted in improving the prey base.

"Improved protection of forests has helped this cause to a great extent. Support of NGOs helped the department in this respect," forest officials said.

The fourth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation was conducted in 2018 in all states and for the first time in forest areas of Telangana, both inside and outside Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks and Tiger Reserves, they said.

The presence of cubs in the both reserves was a very encouraging sign of improvement of the tiger habitat and indicative of the bright future for the tiger population, they added.