Capturing ‘many surprises’ en route from Srisailam to the Amrabad Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Mahbubnagar — from sharp hairpin turns to sighting a family of monkeys, or deer on the forest roadside, the tourist’s anticipation of sighting the tiger was already built.
The 80 km journey to the nature-at-its-best location, the country’s largest tiger reserve, had the first question: “What is the chance of spotting a tiger?”
“Ninety %, not possible,” the ‘Shera’ driver replies, ready to ferry the last batch of visitors to the viewpoint at 4.30 p.m. The pack continued to look out with increased curiosity as the light started to fail.
The Farahabad viewpoint already a window to the world of Nallamala forest, soon the ATR will be a hub of eco-tourism, believe the officials.
Many species
Spread over 2, 800 sq kms across Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar districts in the State, the ATR is home to some 16 tigers, apart from more than 350 species, comprising sloth bears, chital, sambar, nilgai, wild boars and dogs.
“The animals don’t harm us, we see tigers once or twice in a month,” says Mallinath, a local inhabitant. Chenchu tribes — the locals, are also the watchmen, animal trackers, base camp watchers, and the local guardians of the reserve.
Now, imagine trekking a natural trail or hiking a hill along with the Chenchus for about 20 kms in the reserve — finding pug marks, identifying animal droppings and seeing the GPS locations, or indulging in the 6 a.m. bird-watching.
Sustainable
The reserve’s field director M.C. Pargaien says it is being made possible. “There is more future in sustainable eco-tourism, as it gives locals employment, connects people to the nature and achieves the idea of nature-learning,” he says.
“The Octopus viewpoint is a huge success, people have already fallen in love with it. The environment education centre at Mananur is also being upgraded,” he adds.
According to the Telangana Forest Department, there are 16 tigers in the Telangana region, and another 50 in the Andhra expanse.
Tigers abound
“Put together there are about 70 tigers in the entire reserve. Since they are very good swimmers, the ones found in the left bank are also seen on the right bank, and vice versa,” OSD (Wildlife) A. Shankaran says.
While no tigers were spotted in the anticipatory experience at the ATR, it was breathing in the forest air, and sighting of a shy herd of deer and two sloth bears.