Hero Image

Tiger sighting between Umred-Bhisi reiterates need for mitigation steps

Nagpur: Sighting of a tiger on Umred-Bhisi road towards Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) at 12.30am on Friday has once again reiterated the need for strong mitigation measures while widening roads.

As reported by TOI in November 2018, a string of road projects are cutting tiger corridors from TATR to parks like Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR), Ghodazari and Umred-Karhandla wildlife sanctuaries besides the crucial Brahmapuri forest division.



The cluster of roads that are being widened include Malewada-Chimur, Chimur-Warora, Mul-Chandrapur, Gadchiroli-Mul, Chandrapur-Ashti and Navegaon-Ashti. The PWD is widening these roads but work in forested patches has been stalled after National Green Tribunal (NGT), Delhi, took serious note about TOI report. The tribunal has sought mitigation report which is being finalized.

The tiger was sighted between Pahami and Malewada by Gypsy owner Aniket Bawankar around 12.30am when he was returning with his two friends to Kolara. Golu had been to Nagpur for servicing of his vehicle. The said road is also being widened.

“It was pitch dark when suddenly headlights beam fell on an animal from far. I initially mistook it for a cattle but as we neared, stripes of the tiger were visible. I slowed down the vehicle and the tiger walked a kilometre on the road,” recalled Bawankar.

“It was really a surprise sighting as tigers from outside protected areas are generally shy but this tiger behaved quite opposite. It moved inside after a truck came speeding from behind. We waited for 30 minutes for the big cat to come out but it vanished crossing a nearby nullah,” Bawankar said.

The Umred-Bhisi-Chimur road is the shortest route to visit Kolara and Navegaon gates of Tadoba. “Patches of Pahami, Shivapur, Sarathi, Thana and Malewada forest compiled by agriculture fields on the roadside are known for tiger movement and is a corridor to Karhandla, Chimur and Girad forest areas,” said PS Tadas, who was range forest officer (RFO) of South Umred before being shifted to Gondia recently.

TATR Local Advisory Committee (LAC) member Yogendra Dudhpachare says, “While recommending mitigation measures for crucial road clusters around Tadoba, patches like Malewada near Bhisi, which have not been considered so far should not be left out. Tiger evidence is an eye-opener.”

Nikhil Tambekar, who monitors wild animal deaths on roads around TATR, said, “Tadoba is a major tiger source population area and utmost care must be taken as expansion of roads will increase threats to wildlife in reserve and landscape.”

READ ON APP