Connectivity of Tiger Landscape
Kali Tiger Reserve is situated in the central Western Ghats and covers an area of 1425.025 km2 with an adequate prey base. The reserve comprises Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park, bordered by six protected areas of Goa and Maharashtra. The recent migration of the tiger from Sahyadri Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra to Castle Rock Range of Kali Tiger Reserve shows the connectivity of the habitat in the landscape. From a future perspective, Kali Tiger Reserve is an ideal place for tigers in the landscape, having a source population.
Wildlife Ecological Research
A number of research organizations like the Centre for Ecological Studies, Indian Institute of Science and Indian Wood Science and Technology have been involved in various long-term research projects, providing crucial management inputs for better conservation of the reserve.
Diversity of Habitat and Species
The forest area of this reserve represents a transition zone between moist deciduous forests with bamboo to evergreen forests. The forest types represented are: South Indian Moist Deciduous Teak Forests (3B/C1), Southern Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests (3B/C2), West Coast Semi-Evergreen Forests (2A/C2), Moist Bamboo Brakes (2B/E3) and Cane Brakes (2B/E1). The floral diversity includes 1740 species of plant. The flora of the evergreen forest is represented by species such as Olea dioca, Hopei wightania and Diospyros canollena. To the east of the crest line are the moist deciduous forests, with species such as Xylia xylocarpa, Dalbergia latifolia, Tectona grandis and Terminalia spp. The dry deciduous forests are towards the Deccan Plateau in the east, having typical species such as Anogeissus latifolia, Terminalia tomentosa, Grewia tiliaefolia and Tectona grandis. Bamboo is present throughout this area. KTR presently holds a population of 30–40 elephants. The rare wild animals found here include the melanistic leopard (unusually rich in the region), king cobra, ornate flying snake, Ceylon frogmouth, Malabar trogon, Wroughton’s free-tailed bat (Otomops wroughtoni), Theobald’s bat (Taphozous theobaldi) and many lesser-known small cats. About 272 species of bird (TCP, KTR 2015) and mammals such as the tiger, leopard, dhole, elephant, gaur, sambar, chital and wild boar have been reported from this area. The presence of many endemic species such as the Castle Rock night frog and orchids makes it a unique ecosystem for explorers, nature lovers and researchers.
Catchment Area
Kali Tiger Reserve forms the major catchment area that drains several perennial streams like the Kaneri, Vakki and Nagzari. Other than these, there are several streams, springs, ponds like Shivali Nala, Shiroli Nala, Gangoda Nala and Kavala Nala. Nearly 37 springs flow inside the reserve. All of them are perennial in nature. These springs are formed in the hills wherever the topographic slope cuts the water table. As the area is more into paddy cultivation, this supports the livelihood of the local people and provides ecological and ecosystem services like water for drinking and catchment protection.
Effective Relocation
Nearly 7000 families live in about 150 hamlets distributed in 87 revenue villages. The 2011 census record shows that Kali Tiger Reserve has a population of 29,461 (6914 families). The three major communities in KTR are Kunbi, Maratha and Gouli. The Kunbis mainly reside in Kumbarwada, Anshi and Phansoli wildlife ranges. The Marathas are distributed in Phansoli and Castle Rock wildlife ranges, and the Gowlis are mainly found in Kulgi Wildlife Range. There is also a small population of the Havyak Brahmin community in Gund Wildlife Range. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger, Rs.2224 lakhs was released to Kali Tiger Reserve between the years 2013–14 and 2015–16. Till date 380 families had benefited from this programme and have moved out of the tiger reserve. The major settlements from which people have moved out are Sulavali, Gowliwada and Godshet from Kumbharwada Wildlife Range, Sulugeri, Kailwada, Babakumri and Matgaon in Anshi Wildlife Range and Ambikanagar and Amgaon in Kulgi Wildlife Range. The experiences with these are certainly helping the reserve in their present relocation programmes and will continue to help future relocation plans for tribes and other forest dwellers, which form one of the strengths of this tiger reserve.
Infrastructure
Kali Tiger Reserve has good protection infrastructure like anti-poaching camps, road networks, rest houses, a wireless and communication network, firearms, protection gear, patrolling vehicles like jeeps and boats, etc, to meet the management challenges. Staff quarters are maintained regularly.
Traffic Control
Some major roads within the protected area are closed to the public from 6 PM to 6 AM. As per the orders of the District Magistrate, the traffic between Potoli check post and Marda check post of State Highway 46 and between Kulgi check post and Bhagvathi cross of district major road is stopped for the night, thereby reducing the disturbance to wildlife and vulnerability in road accidents.