According to the 2010 Wildlife Institute census, the state had 72 tigers and this excluded an estimated 15 tiger cubs. The state, on the other hand, boasted of a much larger figure — 105 tigers just a decade ago.
Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Mr Hitesh Malhotra, said that the tiger population is reducing in the Godavari region due to widespread destruction of their habitat. Talking about the declaration of the Kawal Wild Life Sanctuary in Adilabad district as a tiger reserve, officials said that the idea to develop the sanctuary as a tiger reserve is logical because of its proximity to forests in Maharashtra that have a significant Tiger population. “As such, there is a huge possibility of tigers coming to this part of the state as well and flourish too, because of conservation efforts,” said the PCCF admitting that two tigers have been spotted in Kawal Tiger Reserve so far. Officials took a very clear stance and said that in the guise of “rights to tribals,” encroachment cannot be allowed.