HIGHEST 90 TIGERS SIGHTED IN 24 HOURS,TATR EMERGES, NUMERO UNO DURING WATERHOLE CENSUS IN VIDARBHA

Chandrapur: Volunteers relished the bumper sighting of tigers and other wildlife in four tiger reserves in Vidarbha as the weather held its composure during 24-hour waterhole census held on Buddha Purnima. Other than some hiccups reported at Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve due flash rains and a solitary accident with volunteers on a machan, the waterhole census remained peaceful across Vidarbha. Field directors of all four tiger reserve told TOI that they had positive feedback from the enumerators as they returned excited with tales of sighting tigers and other wildlife from close range at the machans.

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve topped the chart with primary 59 sightings of tigers including cubs in core zone and 39 sightings of tigers and their cubs in the buffer zone. Waterhole census was successful in TATR. “With a clear sky and good moonlight there was bumper sighting across nearly all waterholes,” said field director, TATR, GP Garad. Officials in TATR informed that there were 23 tiger sightings including cubs in Taodba range, 18 sightings in Moharli (core) and 9 sightings in Kolsa range. Primary reports state the sighting of 18 leopards in core zone during the census.

Similarly, the direct sighting of 25 of adult tigers, 14 tiger cubs and 12 leopards were reported from six ranges in TATR buffer zone. Officials informed that seven tiger sightings, two cubs and two leopards were reported in Mul range, similarly, 4 tigers, 2 cubs and 3 leopards were seen in Shivni range. Volunteers in Khadsangi range reported six tiger sighting, two cubs and a leopard. A tiger and a leopard were seen in Chandrapur (buffer) range, while Palsagon range reported three tiger and two leopard sightings. Moharli (buffer) range witnessed six visits of adult tigers, two cubs and three leopards, deputy director, TATR (buffer), Gajendra Narvane told.

There were reports of 45 direct tiger sightings in Pench and three wildlife sanctuaries under it. Field director, Pench Tiger Reserve, MS Reddy informed that 25 tiger sightings apart from 12 leopard and 13 sloth bears were reported from machans during the census in Pench tiger reserve. He informed that four tigers, two leopards and 13 bears were sighted at waterholes in Bor wildlife sanctuary. Similarly, primary reports from Umred Karandla wildlife sanctuary holds the sighting of 13 tigers and 4 leopards. Volunteers at Tipeshwar sanctuary have reported the sighting of four tigers, two leopards and seven sloth bears during the census.