The Andhra Pradesh government has started efforts to boost the number of gaurs in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve and Nallamala forests to increase prey for tigers and leopards. These animals are now rare in Papikonda National Park and parts of Alluri Sitharama Raju district after vanishing from the reserve and hills due to hunting, habitat loss and disease from cattle. Starting in September, the Forest Department will move gaurs from central India with assistance from the Wildlife Institute of India. Between 300 and 350 gaurs remain in the Polavaram, Chinturu, Paderu and Chintapalli areas. Officials say the animals will provide key food for tigers and help maintain carnivore numbers across the Eastern Ghats while increasing genetic variety in the forests. Plans are also underway to bring two female tigers each from Chandrapur in Maharashtra and from Madhya Pradesh for release in the reserve, which covers roughly 5,443 square kilometres. Recent counts recorded 68 tigers and 11 cubs in the NSTR-Seshachalam area. Tigers serve as indicators of overall habitat health.
