Tourists report second sighting of tiger at Tillari

KOLHAPUR: A group of tourists has spotted a tiger at Tillari forest of Chandgad tehsil, much to the delight of forest officials working towards wildlife conservation in the area.

Last time a tiger was spotted in the forest was a year ago.

Around 3pm on Sunday, Santosh Gawade, a resident of Kodali village in Chandgad, first spotted the tiger as he was driving a vehicle with tourists near Ratoba point. According to his description, the tiger was basking in the sun on the slope of a mountain and moved around in the open area for a few minutes before vanishing in the dense forest.

Tillari is one of the dense forests in the state and is also known as one of the most difficult terrains for its slopes and valleys.

On April 11 last year, the forest department of capturing the photograph of a two-year-old tiger through its camera trap. The department had described it as a major success for the department, which is trying hard to save the forest land from encroachment and ensure tiger's presence.

Sources in the department said 26 cameras have been deployed in various locations near the water bodies. The Chandgad forest range has 10 cameras, while Ajara has six. Cameras have also been installed in Malkapur, Panhala, Gargoti, Kadgav and Pendhangale sections. The trapping cameras are of good quality, with a capacity to move in the 45% angle for better images.

The cameras have night vision and can capture photographs of wild animals without a flash. It is helpful to keep a close watch on any movement in the forest.

S B Tadwalkar, then range forest officer for Patne, had stated that it was encouraging that the camera traps here had spotted a tiger.

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