Wolves rise in MTR as tigers are yet to arrive
KOTA: Although tigers are yet to be rehabilitated in Mukundra Tiger Reserve (MTR), the area is increasingly being treaded by packs of wolves whose number has increased due to lesser human interference and better security measures.
Wildlife experts have claimed resurgence of wolf population in the reserve. Deputy conservator of forest Rajeev Kapoor said, “The wolf, an endangered species under Schedule 1 of Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), was rarely seen in MTR in the last two decades but its sighting has improved, thereby striking a balance in the food chain.”
RS Tomar, secretary, Hadauti Naturalists Society (HNS) said, “Wolves were rarely seen in MTR while foxes, jackals and hyenas were visible.” HNS member Adil Saif told of spotting wolves on multiple occasions.
Spread across 759 square kilometres, Mukundra Tiger Reserve was formed in 2013 after combining Dara Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary and Chambal Ghariyal Sanctuary of Kota, Jhalawar, Chittorgarh and Bundi districts respectively. The strongest of the dog family, forest department officials now peg their number at 29 in the reserve.
Dr Fatima Sultana, associate professor in Zoology, Government Janaki Devi Bajaj Girls College said increased protection and establishment of gates at entry points in MTR has checked human disturbance in MTR over the years due to which sighting of wolves has increased. “Wolves live at the hilly side of MTR whereby it makes a shallow pit on sand,” she added.
Creating prey base before tiger’s arrival
The forest department has got approval from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to shift 350 deer, cheetals and sambhars to MTR to create a prey base for tigers before their translocation from other reserves. The department will keep prey for tigers in its enclosure before the big cats are
released into the wild.