As one of the largest TRs in India (area 2611 km2, including 2166.37 km2 of core), Amrabad Tiger Reserve (ATR) is a compact and large landscape with one of the finest bamboo forests in the Eastern Ghats. It is contiguous with Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve of Andhra Pradesh, from which it is separated by the Krishna River over a 160 km stretch.
ATR is endowed with a diverse flora and fauna. The amazingly rich floral diversity encompasses rare, endangered and medicinal plants with a good level of endemism. The major species within the tiger reserve are Dendrocalamus strictus, Terminalia tomentosa, Terminalia alata, Boswellia serrata and Ficus spp. The recorded faunal diversity includes 50 species of mammal, 305 species of bird, 54 species of reptile, 18 species of amphibian, 55 species of fish, 89 species of butterfly, 57 species of moth and 30 odonate species. ATR has all four species of antelopes found in India and the endangered Indian wolf.
The reserve has two large fresh water reservoirs formed by the dams at Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar, both on the Krishna River, which protect the habitat of the indigenous aquatic fauna of the River Krishna, including a good population of the Smooth Coated Otter. The forests of the tiger reserve are an important catchment for the Krishna River.
Many ancient Hindu temples and caves, such as the Saileshwaram, Uma Maheshwaram, Maddimadugu, Akkamahadevi Caves, Kadilivanam and Mallela Theertham temples, are located inside ATR, endowing it high heritage value. These temples and their surrounds have unique geological formations which offer great opportunities for eco-tourism.
The scenic beauty of the TR is enhanced by the undulating and mountainous terrain, the two large water reservoirs and strategically located view points (Octopus Point, for example), and it is visited by large numbers of tourists.
The deployment of the ethnic tribals (Chenchus) as base camp protection watchers and tiger trackers for wildlife monitoring and for ecotourism by the ATR management is commendable. This has addressed the livelihood issues of forest-dependent communities, motivating support for conservation, reducing human–wildlife conflict and retaliation and reducing other anthropogenic pressures to a certain extent. New anti-poaching camps with improved structures are being established. The frontline staff have been provided with Android phones and wireless communication.
The introduction of the River Patrol using speed boats is helping in controlling the illegal fishing along the Krishna River. Fishing camps have been repeatedly removed, and a stretch of about 60 km out of a total of 160 km is presently under control.
Habitat improvement measures (increasing the area under grassland development, weed eradication (3663 ha In the past 4 years), augmenting the water availability through percolation tanks, water hole development, creation of gabion structures and check dams) have been taken up by the TR management.
The ATR Tiger Conservation Foundation earns most of its revenue through entry fee collection from the 60 km stretch of highway passing through the core. The revenue is used for implementing protection and management strategies.
Efforts have been made for the reintroduction of the endangered mouse deer in a closed area in ATR, and this is an excellent initiative towards the recovery of the population of the species in its former distributional range.
Community-based ecotourism (CBET) and the Environment Education Centre (EEC), at Mannanur, provide good eco-tourism facilities for visitors. Similarly, the Tiger Calling Study Tour for School Children, supported by ATR and the newly introduced Tiger Stay Package, is very effective in raising awareness amongst nature enthusiasts and school children and motivating them towards conservation.
The TR is taking extra efforts towards collaborating with research institutions, nature enthusiasts, NGOs and hospitals to intensify monitoring and increase the participation of stakeholders. The health care of the staff and local villagers is being attended to in a big way.
The garbage collection being done on a daily basis along a 60 km stretch and the further segregation and baling for recycling is an initiative worth emulating in other areas.
Aerial bunching of power cables is being done in a phased manner along the 40 km stretch of NH 765.
ATR is facing severe anthropogenic pressures due to a number of human settlements inside the core (26 villages with about 93,000 people and 1.2 lakh cattle). In addition to the local cattle, there is a large ingress of seasonal migratory cattle from the adjoining districts. Many Chenchu tribals reside in smaller hamlets called pentas within the core area.
Famous temples located in the core area of ATR as well as in the adjoining areas attract a large number of pilgrims from all over the country who visit these temples, creating a lot of pressure in the form of disturbances to the habitat and to the wild animals, vehicular traffic, littering and forest fires, posing a challenge for the management.
A number of fishermen have settled illegally on a semi-permanent basis and practice fishing over the 160 km stretch along the boundary of the Krishna River inside the core of the TR. They also introduce fingerlings of exotic carps, thus threatening the population dynamics of the indigenous fishes of the River Krishna. Although a stretch of about 60 km has been substantially controlled, the threat continues over the rest of the stretch.
The other threats include the passing of National Highway 765 through the area (60 km in the core and 13 km in the buffer), invasive species (Lantana, Cassia tora, Eupatorium), a hydroelectric power project, erection of high-voltage power lines and criss-crossing electric lines for electrification of villages and heavy pilgrimage tourism. Plans to widen the highway may pose a greater challenge in the near future for the ATR management.
Although some measures have been taken to control the traffic on the NH 765, road kills of wild animals are a regular feature on this stretch, apart from the high disturbance levels.
The number of base camps (23 at present) is inadequate for protection considering the vastness of the area and the hilly terrain.
Though the position of vacant posts amongst the frontline staff has improved over the past few years, even now, out of a sanctioned strength of 370 frontline staff (Range Officers, Section Officers and Beat Officers), only 196 are in place, and 174 posts are vacant. Moreover there are continuous requests for resignation from the newly recruited staff as they look for newer avenues of employment, considering their improved educational qualifications and aspirations. There is thus a need for motivating the frontline staff through continuous and specialized training programmes.
Since ATR was notified after the formation of Telangana in 2014, there is a shortage of residential accommodation as well as other infrastructure for the management of the vast area of the tiger reserve.
The rescue and rehabilitation facility, conflict mitigation strategy and veterinary services are inadequate.
The eco-development committees are largely non functional except in a few villages.
Rehabilitation of villages The rehabilitation process of four villages, which is at an advanced stage, needs to be completed in a time-bound manner. Two villages by June 2023 and another two by June 24 should be targeted for total rehabilitation. Considering the vastness of the area, the other villages identified so far (10 more) should also be rehabilitated in a phased manner over the next 5 years.
Rehabilitation of Chenchus and institutionalization of people's participation There is a large population of Chenchus living inside the ATR who are heavily dependent on forest resources for their livelihoods. The Chenchus need to be involved in various ecodevelopment (EDC) activities, ecotourism, etc. to reduce their dependence on ATR. The EDCs need to be activated, and varied livelihood opportunities need to be created through the involvement of and funding from the Tribal Development Department.
Stopping illegal fishing Measures to control illegal fishing over the remaining 100 km stretch of the Krishna River passing through the core need to be put in place. The River Patrol may be strengthened further for ensuring this. The inter-state meetings that have been initiated should be continued. They should be held periodically at various levels.
Coordination with the district authorities for rehabilitation of villages, provision of employment opportunities, livelihood development, controlling encroachment and placing further restrictions over the traffic on NH 765 would be required.
Strengthening of infrastructure The inadequacy of the infrastructure such as buildings must be addressed immediately and arms must be provided to the staff and officers.
Vacancy position and capacity building Recruitment and redeployment of staff should be done so that the vacancy position improves further. The newly recruited frontline staff should be urgently trained through special wildlife conservation courses. The Training Need Assessment (TNA) of the key stakeholders should be conducted periodically to set learning objectives for future training courses and preparation of the Annual Training Plan.
Adequate rescue and conflict mitigation capability Presently the TR lacks veterinary services for rescue and rehabilitation. It is recommended that a mobile veterinary service unit be established by enlisting the services of a dedicated veterinary doctor to deal with wildlife-related rescue emergencies in the TR.
Fire protection In view of the mountainous terrain and the vastness, the fire protection measures need to be strengthened greatly. The number of base camps has to be increased, and these camps can also be used as fire watch towers.
The STPF needs to be constituted and put in place at the earliest. It had been approved by the NTCA in 2015, when 100% financing was available.
Ecotourism ATR, with its beautiful river systems and their well-forested watersheds, has immense tourism potential. Important streams, springs and water falls in the core area of ATR, in Nagarkurnool District, are excellent eco-tourism destinations. It is recommended that the ATR management promote effective ecotourism by involving local communities, the Chenchus and the Lambadas, in accordance with the guidelines of the NTCA.
Extending the area of the buffer ATR has an opportunity to increase the buffer area towards Achampet Forest Division and in the Kollapur Region, beyond the TR boundary. It is recommended that the western boundary be expanded up to the entire Achampet Division as an extended buffer under ATR. The eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) needs to be notified and the Zonal Management Plan for the same should be prepared.
Research collaborations with universities and other institutions need to be strengthened. This would assist with monitoring and documenting the floral and faunal wealth of the Eastern Ghats.
The website of the ATR should be altered to ensure compliance with the latest edition of the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites, prepared by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The research studies and reports and learning resources of the reserve should be uploaded on the website.
There are wide variations among states in compensation policies for depredation by wild animals. An amount of Rs.20 lakhs is paid on account of the death of a human being in Maharashtra as against Rs.5 lakhs in Telangana. It would be appropriate for the state government to periodically review the compensation policy taking into cognizance changes made in other states.