Soon tourists will get to know about tigers, its habitations and experience the wildlife with the help of audio and video by visiting the Indoor Tiger Interpretative Centre at Hassanur Forest Division in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve as work is in progress for establishing the tiger-modelled centre at a cost of ₹ 15 lakh.
Under the “Project Tiger” of the National Tiger Conservation Authority of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, tiger conservation plans, including protection, day-to-day monitoring of tiger movements through camera traps, relocation of people from core critical tiger habitats and creating awareness among the people were being carried out.
The STR spread across 1108 sq. km. has two divisions, Sathyamangalam and Hassanur, with seven territorial ranges with 739.49 sq. km under core areas/critical tiger habitat and 614.91 under buffer/peripheral areas. Recent survey revealed that tiger population in the reserve is over 55.
C.H. Padma, District Forest Officer, Deputy Director, Hassanur Forest Division, STR, told The Hindu that to promote tourism, the Forest Department is in the process of establishing an Eco-Tourism Complex at Hassanur along the Dhimbam – Mysore National Highway.
The complex would house an indoor interpretation centre which is a tiger-modelled one where tourists and students, will gain knowledge on tigers and about its conservation. It will have a ticket counter and rest room facility.
Currently, painting has been completed and work is on to establish the rooms. She added that work will be completed and be thrown open for the public by this year-end.
I. Anwardeen, Chief Conservator of Forests and Field Director, STR, said that a butterfly park will also be established in the complex with all facilities. He added that projects to encourage eco-tourism will be implemented.