Telangana's Amarabad sees more Tigers, yet faces grazing, encroachment, and staff shortage

Time of India

6 days ago

Amarabad Tiger Reserve in Telangana faces escalating threats from illegal cattle grazing.
HYDERABAD: Amarabad Tiger Reserve in Telangana, despite steady growth in tiger numbers, is under increasing pressure. Grazing by cattle through illegal penning is reducing prey availability for tigers.
Fishing nets laid in rivers are blocking tiger movement, limiting access to adjoining areas and affecting their territorial spread.
The reserve is also operating with 52% staff vacancies. While Chenchu community members are engaged as trackers, there is a need to appoint and train them as forest beat officers to fill critical frontline roles.
According to Nagarkurnool District Forest Officer Rohit Gopidi, the reserve faces multiple and serious conservation threats.
"The biggest concern is cattle penning," he said. Pastoral communities from Mahbubnagar and nearby areas are bringing large herds into the forest for fodder and often camp there for two to three months.
You Can Also Check:
Hyderabad AQI
|
Weather in Hyderabad
|
Bank Holidays in Hyderabad
|
Public Holidays in Hyderabad
This has led to intense grazing, especially in Madhyamadugu, which is home to nine tigers and considered a high-density zone. The department has directed herders not to stay overnight, fearing potential conflict if cattle are lost to tigers, which could trigger retaliatory poisoning.
However, both local and non-local graziers continue to enter in large numbers and camp overnight.
The second major issue is illegal fishing in the Krishna River, which flows for 250 km through the reserve and connects it to the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in
Andhra Pradesh
. "We are able to control about 70 km of the river stretch, but nets laid in the rest of the river are disrupting tiger movement," Gopidi said. The nets obstruct the tigers' ability to cross the river.
Encroachment, Infrastructure Gaps, and Prey Pressure
Encroachment remains another persistent problem. Of the 2.89 lakh acres (2,895 sq km) that make up Amarabad Tiger Reserve—including 2,611 sq km of core area and 275 sq km of corridors—around 10,000 acres have been encroached, particularly in Kolhapur and parts of Amarabad, often under the pretext of Podu cultivation.
Staff shortages have further weakened field operations.
"There is a 52% vacancy in forest staff, especially among beat officers," said Gopidi. Recruitment criteria, including tests in English and Hindi, are proving a barrier for local aspirants, leading many new appointees to leave soon after joining. Foresters say promoting Chenchus—currently employed as watchers and trackers—to beat officer roles. "They know the terrain and wildlife better than anyone.
Promoting them would not only help fill posts but also address their longstanding grievances over lack of growth," said a forest official.
Only 29 base camps are operational, whereas at least 50 are needed for effective patrolling across the vast terrain.
The reserve is also struggling with uneven prey density. While zones such as Lingala and Mannanur report healthy prey numbers, other areas remain deficient. The department is working on creating prey enclaves and restoring prey bases in underpopulated zones.