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The largest of India's Tiger Reserves, the
Nagarjunasagar - Srisailam Sanctuary lies in the state of
Andhra Pradesh. The major attractions of
this sanctuary are Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear and Hyena.
The
Nagarjunasagar - Srisailam sanctuary is located in
Guntur,
Prakasam,
Kurnool,
Mahaboobnagar and
Nalgonda districts, at a distance
of 29-km from Macherla and about 150-km from
Hyderabad . It
spans about 3568-sq-kms in area.
The sanctuary is surrounded by the Nallamalai hills on the southern and
eastern sides, while the Krishna River forms the boundary on the other
side. The sanctuary is named after the
Nagarjunasagar
reservoir, formed by a large dam in the northeastern part. The central and
western parts of the sanctuary consist of a plateau, representing one of
the oldest geological formations, known as "Archaean" and dating
back some 2,000 million years.
The Flora And Fauna
Dry deciduous mixed forest with scrub and bamboo thickets provide shelter
to a wide range of animals. The terrain is rugged and winding gorges slice
through the Nallamalai hills. Spotted Deers, Mouse Deers, Black Bucks,
Sambhars, Chousingha Nilgai, Wild Boars, Indian Giant Squirrels, Tree
Shrews, Rayels, Mugger Crocodiles, Wild Dogs, Jackals, Wolves, Foxes,
Sloth Bear, Panthers and Tigers are the animal attractions of this
sanctuary.
In this forest the tiger is truly nocturnal and is rarely seen. The
reserve was home to about 100 tigers at the beginning of this decade.
However, according to a census conducted in 1997, the tiger population has
fallen steeply to about 20.
Importance Of Tiger Conservation
The Tiger, the major carnivore at the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger
Reserve, faces the threat of extinction in spite of its resilience and
adaptability.
The importance of tiger conservation lies in the fact that the presence of
this predator is an indicator of the health of an ecosystem. A natural
forest in which the tiger thrives offers benefits that cannot be
quantified easily in terms of money. These include protection of the
topsoil; retention of groundwater, which is released through the year; and
preservation of biomass resources and the flora.
Present State Of The Sanctuary
Apart from the measures taken for tiger conservation, there is a decline
in the tiger population in the sanctuary. Apart from this fact, the poor
state of the vegetation and the diminishing number of large mammals,
especially herbivores, also point to the alarming state of affairs in the
area. Much of the flora of the Nallamalai hills is being destroyed, even
before they are recorded.
The degradation of the forest, combined with the semi-arid climate of the
region, has adversely affected the sanctuary. The Krishna, which was
fordable prior to the construction of the
Nagarjunasagar
and Srisailam dams,
has now become a barrier, which the animals cannot cross. A significant
part of the sanctuary towards the northeast is fragmented by man-made
water bodies into small, degraded habitats. These areas have to be
protected to provide wildlife room to migrate when necessary, and also to
act as a buffer against biotic pressures. But the buffer itself has been
so over-exploited that biotic pressures are now degrading the core area.
The evolving demographic profile of the towns and villages surrounding
the forest indicate the changes and pressures. The population, both
resident and floating, has increased several folds. Most people, though
classified as dependent on agriculture, are employed in farming only
during the monsoon season.
At other times they depend on the forest to make a living - by collecting
and selling firewood or non-timber forest produce, and in some cases,
smuggling out timber. Several sawmills have come up close to the reserve.
The Nallamalai hills provide fodder for thousands of cattle and local
people often graze their cattle in the forest depriving wildlife access to
these resources.
Air: The nearest airport is
Hyderabad situated
150-km from the sanctuary.
Rail: The nearest railway station is Hyderabad from the sanctuary.
Road:
The nearest town to this sanctuary is Macherla, which is 29-km away
from the sanctuary. The sanctuary is also well connected by state owned
buses.
Tourists can find good accommodation in the guesthouses and cottages located near the temples within the sanctuary.
The climate is hot and arid, the hottest months being March-June with a maximum temperature of 42°C. and a minimum temperature is 12°C. Rains are brought about by the southwest monsoon, which prevails from June to October. Annual rainfall is 590-760mm, though some parts receive up to 1500mm.
Contact: Field Director, Project Tiger, Srisailam Dam East, Andhra Pradesh - 512102