The genetic diversity and population of tigers in Andhra Pradesh is set to be enhanced with the translocation of two female tigers each from Chandrapur in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Environment & Forests, K. Pawan Kalyan, said in a release issued on the occasion of the International Tiger Day on Wednesday.
Apart from that, the number of anti-poaching camps in the Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is being increased from 89 to 150.
Mr. Pawan Kalyan observed that a tiger was not merely India’s National Animal but a symbol of the country’s forest wealth, biodiversity and ecological balance.
Protecting tigers means safeguarding forests, water resources, wildlife and the natural heritage, he said.
Mr. Pawan Kalyan said the International Tiger Day serves as a reminder of the resolution taken by the global community in 2010 for tiger conservation. It highlights how India emerged as a role model in tiger protection. Due to initiatives like Project Tiger, India is now a home for nearly 75% of the world’s tiger population.
He noted that the NSTR was the largest tiger reserve in the country, spanning over approximately 5,443 square kilometers in the Nallamala forests, a safe habitat for leopards, bears, wild dogs and hundreds of other wildlife species.
As per recent estimates, 68 tigers and 11 cubs were recorded in the NSTR–Seshachalam region. This was the result of the conservation measures taken by the State government which, in addition to strengthening anti-poaching mechanisms, undertook efforts to develop grasslands and increase prey populations.
He said that surveillance of the forests was being carried out effectively using drones, camera traps and other modern monitoring systems.
Further, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said the coalition government was working with dedication to preserve ecological balance and called for concerted efforts to ensure that the roar of the tiger continues to echo permanently in the Nallamala forests, and extended greetings to the people, Forest Department officials and staff, wildlife conservationists, scientists, environmental enthusiasts and the tribal communities for becoming active partners in the protection of forests.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister virtually inaugurated the Guchimi Kumki Elephant Camp in Parvathipuram-Manyam district, which is aimed at mitigating the human - elephant conflicts.
He said that Kumki elephants Jayanth and Abhimanyu worked efficiently during complex operations in the Palamaner region and pointed out that human-elephant conflicts were reduced by over 70% through the use of modern technology.
Published - July 30, 2026 08:40 am IST