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Tigress Kaani travels 70km, New Nagzira to Navegaon


Tigers are long-ranging animals, migrating from one protected area to another. In yet another recorded migration, a tigress named Kaani travelled almost 70km to reach Navegaon wildlife sanctuary from New Nagzira, crossing the busy NH6.

Both the PAs are now part of Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR), though divided by the national highway.Quite a few migrations have been reported from Nagzira earlier too. In 2009, it was Prince, who travelled to Pench followed by another male Aayat, who moved along Balaghat-Kanha corridor in February 2013. During the same year, another male Jai reached Umred-Karhandla sanctuary, travelling 120km.

According to a latest study by honorary wildlife warden of Gondia Sawan Bahekar, Ankit Thakur, Chetan Jasani and Shashank Ladekar, with inputs from Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), Kaani (T6) was one of the three siblings born in October 2012 in New Nagzira to tigress named 'Alpha'. It was sighted in Navegaon on December 3.The tigress came to be known as Kaani, after her right eye turned squint due to an injury when she was six months old.

The cubs, one male and two females, were sighted for the first time in Gaikhuri of New Nagzira on May 1, 2013. Movement of the cubs with mother was mainly found in Gaikhuri and Bandarzara areas.

As the cubs turned 14-month-old the family was reported in adjoining Koka sanctuary in March 2014. T6 also moved along Koka-Chandrapur state highway. She was frequently sighted on the edges of Koka, may be trying to carve out a separate territory.

"Our group monitored T6 regularly. As the rainy season faded, Kaani moved forward to the north of Nagzira and was reported in adjoining forest of Mangezari, Govindtola and Junewani, which is an already recognized corridor for dispersal towards Kanha-Pench. T6 pugmarks were found during monitoring while she was in migration," says Bahekar.

He added some cattle kills were reported in this area from October 21 to November 4. Subsequently, T6 was reported in camera traps in compartment number 92 of Nagzira sanctuary on November 21."It was the first time she had travelled the long distance. Her movement was later observed towards Murdoli on state highway and was seen by some locals while crossing the highway late night on November 23," says Bahekar.

The local RFOs were alerted about T6 movement, with increase in patrolling. The wildcat then crossed Chulbandh and headed towards Jambhdi. Her pugmarks were traced in adjoining Jambhdi in a nullah of Umarzari dam.
On November 26, T6 moved to Ghisamari, which is considered the richest part of the corridor. Tiger scat was collected in this area after a few days.

As tiger movement was observed in Navegaon, officials installed camera traps and the tigress was captured on camera on December 3."We compared the camera trap pictures with available records and affirmed that T6 was a resident of New Nagzira now," said Sanjay Thawre, field director and conservator of forest of NNTR.Nagzira has often been in the news for missing tigers.

Even now, wildlife experts claimed that officials should not conclude that migration of tigers is an indication they are safe and are not being poached."The serious issue is when tigers can stay back with availability of 656 sq km forest area, why are they moving out of the park consistently?" they asked. As per official estimation, only six tigers have been reported this year in the tiger reserve.

 

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