WTI Nagzria-Navegaon, Tadoba , Kanha Survery Complited

A TEAM of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) has completed the survey, study, monitoring and data collection work of the phase I of Nagzria-Navegaon Tiger Corridor Security Programme under the Central India Tiger Conservation Project. This portion of Nagzira-Navegaon corridor is important otherwise the contiguous corridor upto Tadoba and then to Kanha National Park would have got fragmented.

The reserved forest declared in 1879 has higher value from the protection point of view. In such areas, villagers do not have long-term rights. The corridor attaches importance for source population of tigers in Nagzira for migration. Moreover, the tigers get genetic security /diversity because of continuous corridor right from Chhattisgarh. Maharashtra. Madhya Pradesh to Nagarjun Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh. 

The team studied about 50 km long corridor from Nagzira to Navegaon. in which 90 villages are situated. The team also found existence of good numbers of tigers, leopards, wild dogs, wolves and herbivores using the corridor. The corridor from Nagzira goes towards Chulbandh. Umarzhari.Shendauplo the highway towards Maramjob in Navegaon Sanctuary. The odier patch of corridor from New Nagzira surrounded by Sondlagondi. Jambhlapani is diverted from Chulbandh towards Kohmara upto the highway and then to Navegaon National Park. The team also studied whether the corridor is affected by industrial unit or development scheme, he added.

Bhamhurkar pointed out that WTI now completed installing camera traps at the corridor. It has also provided improved ovens, bio-gas to some of the villages depending on forest for fuel wood. It plans to iastal hand-pumps and grow grass. The team has also given training to villagers on preparing by-products from Mahua and fruits. Solar fencing would be erected in the identified villages on priority basis in cooperation with the Forest Department, he added.

WTI team will now undertake survey of corridor from Navegaon to Tadoba. Adity Joshi. Anil kumar and others extended cooperation in this study programme.