22 November,2021 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
Tiger T3C1 walked all the way from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary to Gautala Autramghat Sanctuary in March this year
Amid doubts in the minds of some wildlife lovers whether the male tiger T3C1 or Walker 2, that walked all the way from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Vidarbha to Gautala Autramghat Sanctuary of Aurangabad covering a 330-km road distance, will make the sanctuary its home, the tiger has completely settled there. Post-monsoon too the tiger has been seen in the sanctuary; but the question that arises is how long will it stay in the sanctuary in absence of a mate.
Sunil Limaye, principal chief conservator of forest-wildlife, said, "Our team at Gautala Autramghat Sanctuary has been continuously monitoring the movement of Tiger T3C1 since the time it arrived at the sanctuary in March this year. We are getting regular updates about the tiger with the help of camera traps installed in the sanctuary. Our teams are closely monitoring the area where the tiger roams, and day and night patrolling is also done on a regular basis. It appears to us that T3C1 has made this sanctuary its home and the reason for the same is good forest cover and ample amount of wild prey base."
Sources also told mid-day that the tiger is using a huge portion of the 260 sq km to roam. Over 20 camera traps have been installed to track its movement. In addition, CCTV cameras have been installed at artificial waterholes.
Depending on the movement of the tiger, forest department officials are creating awareness among local villagers so that no disturbance is caused to the tiger.
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The tiger was first spotted in a camera trap on March 15 this year. According to the forest department officials, the sighting of a tiger in the sanctuary took place for the first time after 1940. The image of the tiger was matched with the tiger database and it was found that the tiger was T3C1 (Walker 2), aged over two years and from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal of Vidarbha.
Experts had said the tiger might have walked from Pandharkawada, Umarkhed, some parts of Telangana, Akola, Dnyanganga (Buldhana), Hingoli, and then reached Gautala from Ajanta mountain ranges, covering a close to 2,000-km journey.
The Gautala Autramghat Sanctuary has southern tropical dry deciduous forest and grasslands and it is home to a large number of animals like jungle cat, leopard cat, barking deer, jackal, fox, leopard, wild boar and chinkara. As per forest department data, the sanctuary is home to over 25 leopards.
Conservation Photographer Sarosh Lodhi, also member of CLaW, said, "Tigers have migrated great distances in the past; because of telemetry, we now know the exact routes, origin and destination. For a good gene pool, it is important that the routes taken are not fragmented further. As for T3C1, it's crucial that he finds a mate to make the sanctuary its permanent home. If the region is conducive, authorities should contemplate bringing a partner from a tiger surplus region."
2,000km
Distance (approximately) travelled by T3C1
