Dhenkanal: To ensure the safety of the big cats and growth in their population, the Forest department has proposed that the state government include Nandinia and Kandhara forests in the Satkosia tiger corridor in Dhenkanal district. The authorities are awaiting the approval of the government in this regard.
Notably, Satkosia was notified as a tiger reserve in 2007. In 2006, the tiger reserve had 14 big cats.
“After the approval, the Satkosia tiger corridor will be implemented. Inclusion of the two reserve forests of Dhenkanal will ensure a broader area for the big cats to roam freely and avail enough food for their proliferation,” said Divisional Forest Officer Dr Prakashchand Gogineni.
Meanwhile, the Forest department has initiated the groundwork for counting the big cats in the district. Training programmes for officials to be deployed for the purpose has started at Angul.
In the first phase, two officials each from the eight ranges of the district have received training. In the next phase, the trained officials will impart training to other colleagues in their respective ranges.
According to the Forest department, the tiger counting process will be carried out on the help of trap cameras installed in various locations and pugmarks around water bodies.
It was learnt that about seven leopards are residing in various reserve forests of the district. Their pictures had been captured by cameras.
However, the upcoming census is expected to detect the exact number of big cats in the district.