Andhra Pradesh to bring gaurs from central India to feed Nallamala’s tigers
Andhra Pradesh is translocating gaurs from central India to the Nallamala forest range to restore the prey base for tigers and leopards. This conservation effort aims to support the carnivore population and improve genetic diversity in the region.
Why it matters
This initiative is a critical step in wildlife conservation and ecosystem management for India's largest tiger reserve.
As part of its efforts to expand the prey base for tigers and leopards, the Andhra Pradesh government has begun steps to increase the population of gaurs (Indian bison) in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) and the Nallamala forests.
These wild bovines are sparsely found in the Papikonda National Park and parts of Alluri Sitharama Raju district, but they have all but disappeared from the NSTR and the Nallamala hills over the years because of hunting, loss of habitat and cattle disease transmission, which affected the availability of prey mainly for tigers.
The Forest Department has decided to reintroduce gaurs in the NSTR and the Nallamala forest range from September, by translocating them from central India with the help of the Wildlife Institute of India.
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