Chief Wildlife Warden

Sri Elusing Meru, IFS
Prl.Chief Conservator of Forests (Prot & Vig) & (WL & CWLW)

About WILDLIFE IN TELANGANA

Telangana is endowed with rich diversity of Flora and Fauna with over 2939 plant species, 365 bird species, 103 mammal species, 28 reptile species and several hundreds of invertebrate species.

Important endangered species found in the State are Tiger, Panther, Gaur, Four Horned Antelope, Black Buck, Mouse Deer, Long Billed Vulture, Marsh Crocodile, Rock Python, Russel’s Viper, Giant Squirrel etc.





Telangana - Forest Protected Areas

Protected Areas

The Forest Department hasa established network of Protected Areas which include 7 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 2 Tiger reserves and 3 National Parkswhich are notified under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for conservation of the rich floral and faunal diversity and to maintain ecological balance. The twelve Protected Areas cover 7260 Sq. Kms. of area which is 27% of total forest area of the State.

Zoological Parks & Deer Parks

There are three (3) Zoological Parks in the State of Telangana i.e., Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad (Large Zoo), Kakatiya Zoological Park, Hanumakonda (Small Zoo) &Pillalamarri, Mahboobnagar (Mini Zoo). The NZP is among the best Zoo in the Country with annual visitor numbers of 30 lakh. The Central Zoo Authority, GoI has selected the Nehru Zoological Park as one among the ten Zoos in the Country for modernization of the zoo to global standards. There are three Deer Parks under the control of Forest Department. All the Zoological Parks and Deer Parks are managed as per the Central Zoo Authority guidelines.

Activities

Man Animal Conflict

i.Due to shrinkage of wildlife habitat and pressure on wildlife habitat, there is increase in man animal conflict in the State. The main conflicts are due to Wild pig and Monkey damage to agriculture and horticulture crop, cattle kills due to carnivores like Tiger and Leopard, crop loss due to Black Buck and Chinkara which predate on agriculture crop.

ii. Recently the Govt. has enhanced the rate of payment of compensation for human death from Rs. 5.00 lakh to Rs.10.00 lakh per person. Human injuries are being treated with Govt. bearing the entire cost of treatment.

iii. In case of grievous injuries in addition to cost of treatment Rs.1.00 lakh ex-gratia is paid in each case.

Catch the traps

Killing/hunting of Wild Animals using snares, traps, nets, live wire, poison, explosives etc. is one of the major challenges for the protection and conservation of our precious wildlife. The reasons behind such illegal hunting are ranging from consumption needs to trade of various parts of animals to retaliatory hunting. The retaliatory hunting is mostly done in response to damage of crops or injury to humans or cattle by wild animal though the reason of prevention of loss of agriculture is mostly given for all such kinds of illegal hunting. Various kinds of devices suiting to variety of purposed and species are used by using materials like rope, wire, steel mesh etc .

To prevent attempts of killing/hunting of wild animals, a State wide intensive preventive drive"Catch The Trap" was launched from 1st December 2023 by issuing instructions by Chief Wildlife Warden on 25th November 2023.

Any information regarding such illegal devices /material being used for hunting or person carrying such activity may inform to local DFO or to 9803338666or 18004255364.