Tiger Reserves

A spurt in the number of tigers along the boundaries of Ratapani Sanctuary and Kerwa dam has triggered fear among the villagers staying close by. Modern technologies, including E-eye surveillance system, have several times spotted big cats jaywalk the adjacent streets. The juvenile male tigers in the dense forest area are fighting with the older big cats to claim their territory, say Bhopal division forest officials.
Not long very ago when a hungry leopard crossed the forest boundary and scaled the walls of Kaliasot dam. A shepherd, who had taken his flock of sheep and goats to the field, screamed for his life when he saw the unwavering animal dive on his herd. Such incidents where human lives have had close shaves are frequent in this region.
As TOI investigated, several officials took us through the facts of the serene landscape around the capital and said at least eight to nine tigers, most of whom are adults, move around the city limits. T1 is the father of the few that stroll along the dams of Kerwa, Kaliasot and Kathotiya region. As the number rose, T1 has driven its off-springs— T123, a male and T 121, a female — out of its kingdom.
"Apart from other adults, pugmarks of the siblings T121 and T123 have been found on the marsh lands. The two are around 2 years and 3 months old and weigh between 220 kilo and 270 kilo. The constant felling of trees in and around Kerwa and Kathotiya are creating a biotic pressure on the wild animals, forcing them to leave the forest in search of water and food. The human population around the region has grown by leaps and bounds," said Bhopal division range officer (RO) Arvind Ahirvwar.
"The population of tigers in the stretch between Ratapani Sanctuary and Kerwa dam has risen to around 28 from 19 in 2013. There were only 9 tigers in the area in 2006," said Dr SP Tiwari, conservator of forest, Bhopal division.
"The sanctuary sprawls across around 900sq km, and has over 30 villages around. The region, however, has just 4 water bodies and few swamplands. Therefore, the tigers often leap across the highways to quench their thirst. Pug marks of the big cats along the wet lands that are close to the dam have helped us to track them and keep count of their numbers," a forest department survey reads.
"T1 is restless and moves slowly along the common belt of Bhopal, Sehore and Obedullahganj area. Mendora, Chichli and Samardha regions are frequented by the female T121 tiger, and the Bhanpur forest is frequented by the male T121," Ahirwar said.
City-based wildlife enthusiast Saurabh Popli said, "The landmass from Ratapani Sanctuary to Kathotiya is a very significant corridor. The forest is degrading, and therefore the health of the landscape is under threat. It needs to be taken care of. It's the humans who are intruding the territory of wild animals and disturbing them through felling of the forest. This can be checked if we love and take care of the forests."