Kawal tiger reserve records 95 leopards, highest in 4 yrs

The number of leopards found in the Kawal tiger reserve, which spreads across the four districts of old Adilabad, comes as a surprise to many.

In the annual census of carnivores and herbivores which concluded in April, animal trackers found 95 leopards at the tiger reserve. This is a massive step up from the numbers recorded in previous years — 10 in 2014, 12 in 2015, and 25 leopards in 2016. The unprecedented increase in numbers this year has made them attractive to poachers.

There were no tigers found in the tiger reserve; this was attributed to the large population of wild dogs. It is said that tigers and wild dogs do not usually occupy the same territory. In the absence of tigers, poachers are focusing on leopards.

Mr Durgam Prabhakar, a forest beat officer from Gangapur of Kadam mandal in Nirmal district, formerly a part of old Adilabad, said the leopards sometimes come out of their hideouts during the daytime and move around the forest roads if there is no disturbance caused by vehicles or humans.

He said that the number of leopards had increased because the forests in Gangapur, Mysamapet and Allampalli are dense and almost devoid of disturbances. He adds that there are many packs of ferocious wild dogs in the Kadam forest area.

The census conducted at the tiger reserve also indicates that there have been improvements in the number of wild dogs and bisons. The census counted 175 wild dogs and 146 bison.

Kawal tiger reserve, the 42nd in the country, was established in 2012. It has a core area of 892.23 sq km and a buffer zone of 1,123.21sq km.