Tigers prowling in Vazhachal forests

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Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsThere is reason for big cat enthusiasts in the state to celebrate, as the forest officials have spotted tiger movement in the Vazhachal area.The cameras installed by the officials near the medicinal gardens at Vazhachal recorded the movements the other day. According to Vazhachal forest divisional officer Abdul Nazar Kunju, this is first time that the authorities have spotted a tiger here.A few days ago, forest officials had found a half-eaten carcass of a Sambar Deer here in the forest. On examining the carcass, the officials noticed pug marks on the carcass. Following this, the officials installed a camera at the spot, without moving the carcass. On reviewing the images caught on the camera, they found images of a tiger, among other animals like leopards and barking deer, which were feeding on the carcass of the deer, he said. Earlier attempts by the Forest Department to capture movements of carnivorous animals, especially tigers and leopards, on camera yielded no results, although forest field staff claimed that they had sighted a tiger attacking a deer near Kundoor Medu.But leopards and herds of wild elephants were often sighted here, the forest officials said. The presence of the apex predator has once again underscored the fact that the contiguous forests close to the Parambikulam reserve forest was healthy and abundant with herbivores, wildlife experts said. The sighting of the tiger has heightened the need for vigil and conservation drive in the wildlife reserves here. A few months ago, an adult tigress was spotted near Athirumala, between Neyyar and Peppara wildlife reserves, by the wildlife authorities.According to the 2010 tiger census, there are approximately 1,706 the tigers in the country, which includes about 70 in the marshes of the Sunderbans. The largest number of tigers lives in Karnataka - about 280 - and conservation efforts have been successful in the entire Western Ghats, with Tamil Nadu and Kerala seeing good results.first published:August 13, 2012, 10:46 ISTlast updated:August 13, 2012, 10:46 IST
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There is reason for big cat enthusiasts in the state to celebrate, as the forest officials have spotted tiger movement in the Vazhachal area.

The cameras installed by the officials near the medicinal gardens at Vazhachal recorded the movements the other day. According to Vazhachal forest divisional officer Abdul Nazar Kunju, this is first time that the authorities have spotted a tiger here.

A few days ago, forest officials had found a half-eaten carcass of a Sambar Deer here in the forest. On examining the carcass, the officials noticed pug marks on the carcass. Following this, the officials installed a camera at the spot, without moving the carcass. On reviewing the images caught on the camera, they found images of a tiger, among other animals like leopards and barking deer, which were feeding on the carcass of the deer, he said. Earlier attempts by the Forest Department to capture movements of carnivorous animals, especially tigers and leopards, on camera yielded no results, although forest field staff claimed that they had sighted a tiger attacking a deer near Kundoor Medu.

But leopards and herds of wild elephants were often sighted here, the forest officials said. The presence of the apex predator has once again underscored the fact that the contiguous forests close to the Parambikulam reserve forest was healthy and abundant with herbivores, wildlife experts said. The sighting of the tiger has heightened the need for vigil and conservation drive in the wildlife reserves here. A few months ago, an adult tigress was spotted near Athirumala, between Neyyar and Peppara wildlife reserves, by the wildlife authorities.

According to the 2010 tiger census, there are approximately 1,706 the tigers in the country, which includes about 70 in the marshes of the Sunderbans. The largest number of tigers lives in Karnataka - about 280 - and conservation efforts have been successful in the entire Western Ghats, with Tamil Nadu and Kerala seeing good results.