The deer rehabilitation centre (DRC) at Jannaram, the headquarters of Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR), sorely requires more area to accommodate the growing number of ungulates.
The rehabilitation centre is bursting at the seams, what with the 10-hectare area becoming too cramped for the 64 animals.
However, pressure on the facility will ease in the coming days when over a third of its animal population will be relocated to the Vana Vignana Kendram, Warangal. “We will give away about 25 animals, mostly spotted deers and nilgais, to Warangal,” reveals Jannaram Wildlife Divisional Forest Officer K. Damodar Reddy.
The DRC currently accommodates 50 spotted deer, 7 nilgais, 6 sambars and one black buck. Some nilgais that have become ferocious and present the risk of attacking other animals at the park have their movement restricted to separate enclosures.
Forest officials and wildlife experts disagree on what space can be termed sufficient.
Though there is no comparison between the ideal population density in the wild and the one in facilities like the DRC, the 10 hectares are not sufficient for animal movement. The fact that the animals in the park are provided green fodder by the Forest Department helps do away with the need for the animals to move about.
“At KTR, the population density of wild animals is 31.5 per sq. km., but as many as 50 can be accommodated in the area,” the DFO opines as he draws a comparison. “Wild animals need much more space as they have to scout the area in search for fodder, unlike animals at the DRC,” he adds. “There is also no territory encroachment among the herbivores as in the case of the carnivores,” Mr. Reddy pointed out another aspect to drive home the point that population pressure at DRC was not alarming.
However wildlife experts differ, saying more space would help the animals integrate seamlessly to wild environments whenever the need arose.
“Expansion of the area is needed for infusing wild characteristics in the animals which will help in their release to the forests whenever there is overcrowding,” said a wildlife expert.
Wild animals need much more space as they have to scout the area in search for fodder, unlike animals at the DRC
K. Damodar Reddy
Divisional Forest Officer
Expansion of the area is needed for infusing wild characteristics in the animals which will help in their release to the forests whenever there is overcrowding
a wildlife expert
However, pressure on the facility will ease in the coming days when over a third of its animal population will be relocated to the Vana Vignana Kendram, Warangal. “We will give away about 25 animals, mostly spotted deers and nilgais, to Warangal,” reveals Jannaram Wildlife Divisional Forest Officer K. Damodar Reddy.
The DRC currently accommodates 50 spotted deer, 7 nilgais, 6 sambars and one black buck. Some nilgais that have become ferocious and present the risk of attacking other animals at the park have their movement restricted to separate enclosures.
Forest officials and wildlife experts disagree on what space can be termed sufficient.
Though there is no comparison between the ideal population density in the wild and the one in facilities like the DRC, the 10 hectares are not sufficient for animal movement. The fact that the animals in the park are provided green fodder by the Forest Department helps do away with the need for the animals to move about.
“At KTR, the population density of wild animals is 31.5 per sq. km., but as many as 50 can be accommodated in the area,” the DFO opines as he draws a comparison. “Wild animals need much more space as they have to scout the area in search for fodder, unlike animals at the DRC,” he adds. “There is also no territory encroachment among the herbivores as in the case of the carnivores,” Mr. Reddy pointed out another aspect to drive home the point that population pressure at DRC was not alarming.
However wildlife experts differ, saying more space would help the animals integrate seamlessly to wild environments whenever the need arose.
“Expansion of the area is needed for infusing wild characteristics in the animals which will help in their release to the forests whenever there is overcrowding,” said a wildlife expert.
Wild animals need much more space as they have to scout the area in search for fodder, unlike animals at the DRC - K. Damodar Reddy, Divisional Forest Officer
Expansion of the area is needed for infusing wild characteristics in the animals which will help in their release to the forests whenever there is overcrowding a wildlife expert
