Adilabad Harithavanam - Mavala Ecological Park

Adilabad Harithavanam or Mavala Ecological park is located in Mavala village, Adilabad Mandal, Adilabad district, Telangana State, India is a green initiative of Telangana Forest Department developed as part of Urban Lung Spaces in Telangana.

It is providing much needed Environmental Education and Recreation to the people around the area besides protection and conservation of the forests.

Situated In Mavala Reserved Forest adjoining Adilabad Town along NH-44 spreading in an area of 1000 Acres.The Forest department will soon propose upgradation of Adilabad Harithavanam - 4,000 acres of forest surrounding it - into a National Park. The move will bring in all the support needed not only to protect the forest and its wildlife but to create a facility for people to get familiar with nature.

The patch of forest is located near Mavala village, about six km from Adilabad district headquarters. Already 1,000 acres of this patch abutting the NH-44 have been converted into a conservation zone.

At the moment, the park is a home to several wild animals like leopard, nilgais, wild boars, wild dogs, deer etc. With a large water body inside the park, the land is well-conserved and animals flock here. It also has a public park inside, which is separated from the forest area and many families visit it on a regular basis. The government also intends to create a service that will allow people to get familiar with nature while learning to not disturb the wildlife. We’re hoping this happens soon as we’ll get to safari all we like.

Lion Safari
Situated In Mavala Reserved Forest adjoining Adilabad Town along NH-44 spreading in an area of 1000 Acres, a tall chain link mesh with the height of around 15 feet has been erected. Further a big moat all round the chain link mesh fence has been created to avoid the tress pass of any wild animals living in the area. The animal house is provided with 11 holding rooms and all the 11 holding rooms are provided with retrieval area for the day time rest. The identified groups of animals are only allowed into safari on a rotational basis regularly for the benefit of visiting tourists.

Presently there are 19 lions (10 male and 9 females) are housed in lion safari

Tiger Safari
The peripheral boundary has been created for all the 3 units by digging open moat and erecting chain link mesh fence. Indira Gandhi Tiger Safari has the facility of 11 holding rooms. The Appaiah Tiger Safari has the facilities of 02 animal housing complexes. Both animal houses together has 10 animal holding rooms. The White tiger safari has the facilities of 02 animal housing complexes. There are totally 08 animal holding rooms. All the holding houses are provided with basic facilities of water and sanitation. The identified groups of animals are only allowed into safari on a rotational basis regularly for the benefit of visiting tourists.

Presently there are 26 (15 male and 11 females) normal tigers and 7 (3 male and 4 females) white tigers are housed in tiger safari

Special Attractions

1. Kids Play Zone
2. Party Zone
3. Relaxation AND Rejuvenation Zone
4. Nature Education Zone
5. Conservation Zone
6. Adventure Zone
• The adventure sports section consists of sky cycling, zipping and rope course. These would form added attraction for youth, who visit the park in large numbers almost every day.
7. Boating
8. Nature Walk
9. Jungle Safari
10. Bird Watching
11. Watch Tower
12. Canopy Walk
13. Cafeteria
14. Jungle Shop
15. Picnic Zone
16. Pay Homage to Forest Matyrs

August 23, 2019 : Mavala Harithavanam now boasts of adventure sports sectionForest Minister A. Indrakaran Reddy on Friday threw open for public an adventure sports section at Mavala Harithavanam, which serves as an urban forest park. The park already boasts of a wild animal safari, boating and other facilities. Mr. Reddy was accompanied by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R. Shobha, who is the Head of Forest Force, Adilabad ZP Chairman Rathod Janardhan, Adilabad MLA Jogu Ramanna, Boath MLA Rathod Bapu Rao, Collector D. Divya, Superintendent of Police Vishnu S. Warrier, Chief Conservator of Forests C.P. Vinod Kumar, Mancherial District Forest Officer Shivani Dogra and Adilabad DFO B. Prabhakar. They planted saplings at the park as part of Haritha Haaram.

The adventure sports section consists of sky cycling, zipping and rope course. These would form added attraction for youth, who visit the park in large numbers almost every day.

 On the occasion, the Minister spoke about the importance of trees and forests. He said the government was committed to increasing the survival rate of saplings planted during Haritha Haaram this year to 85%.

12 Nov, 2019: Plant saplings to restore the glory of the forest: Minister Indrakaran
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said to develop the forest area, they are extending the forest cover area to about five kilometres from Mavala Park to Durganagar, KRK Colony to Tantoli road. The work has been taken up with the participation of people to bring back the glory to vanished forest for the welfare of future generations and for the protection of the forest.


Contact
District Forest Officer : 9440-810-098
Forest Divisional Officer : 7337-552-400
Forest Range Officer : 7337-552-401
info@adilabadharithavanam.com

www.adilabadharithavanam.com

https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/plant-saplings-to-restore-the-glory-of-the-forest-minister-indrakaran-580646

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/mavala-harithavanam-now-boasts-of-adventure-sports-section/article29236290.ece

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Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park

Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park is a deer national park located in Vanasthalipuram , Saheb Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park is place every nature lover and wildlife enthusiasts must visit. Established in the year of 1975, it has been named after the great Jain saint Lord Mahavir, in his honour on the occasion of his 2500th birth anniversary. Located in Vanasthalipuram, at a distance of 15 km from Hyderabad, Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park is famous for being a home to the endangered species of Black Buck Deer.

Visiting Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park offers glimpses of not only black buck deer, known as Jinka in Telugu language but also offers the rare opportunity to explore the extensive range of flora and fauna. Some of the animals that you can see here are cheetals (chital or spotted deer), monitor lizards, wild boars, porcupines and varied kinds of snakes.

Spread across an area of approximately 15 km, this national park boasts of a rich avian fauna as well. Some of birds here are cormorants, partridges, pond herons, quails, egrets along with doves, peacocks, kingfishers, vultures, kites and many others. If you like to spend some time bird-watching and studying various species, then plan a visit to this park. Here you will find a range of beautiful birds. Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park is also home to about eighty species of migratory birds. If lucky you can also get a glimpse of rare bird Short-toed Eagle that has also made this place as its home.

There are good facilities for visitors to observe animals; many sheds and viewing towers have been made for the purpose. Get on these watch towers for a mesmerising view of the area around, vast spread of nature in its wildest form, without buildings and vehicles to obstruct your view. There is also the facility of safari in the park. To get the real experience is to actually watch the wildlife live in action. The safari rides at the park presents every visitor with that opportunity. There are vans which take visitors around the national park, presenting view of the animals amid the dense vegetation. Neem, Acacias, Buteas and Bauhinias are only a few names out of the vast species of flora here at the national park. Along with this, there is an exhibition hall as well, which offers a detailed insight into the wildlife conservation; an informative library and a collection of audio visual presentation on wildlife.

The government has also introduced van safaris to take the visitors on a ride within the park to watch the animals closely.

HOW TO REACH

The national park is located nearly 18 km away from Hyderabad city towards outskirts, nearby Hyderabad – Vijayawada highway.

Park Entry Fee 

20 per Adult
15 per Child
NA for Video Camera
NA for Still / DSLR Camera

Timings : 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Monday Closed

Park Address: 2/B, National Highway 9, Vanasthalipuram, Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park, Auto Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500070, India

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Nehru Zoological Park

Nehru Zoological Park or Hyderabad Zoo is located in Bahadurpura, Hyderabad, Telangana, India was established October 26, 1959. It was declared open to the public on October 6, 1963. The Park extends over 380 acres, abutting the Miralam Tank on the southern side and National Highway No.:7 on the eastern boundary. It is the premier recreation spot in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

Nehru Zoological Park has successfully bred several endangered wild animals both indigenous and exotic, like Asiatic Lion, Royal Bengal Tiger(both normal and White), Gaur, Blackbuck, Thamin Deer, Swamp Deer, Sloth Bear, Malayan Sun Bear, Hippopotamus, Jaguar, Painted Stork, White Ibis, Grey Pelcian, Rosy Pelican, Several Pheasants, Crocodiles, Green Iguana, etc,.

Whild Animals like Blackbuck, Spotted Deer, Peafowl, Crocodiles, etc which have been bred in the Zoo have been rehabilitated in the sanctuaries and National Parks of the State.

Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad is one of the first zoos in the Country to display the animals in open moated enclosures with no barriers in between the visitors and the animals. The zoo was established with this concept and was opened to public viewing on 06.10.1963. Since then the zoo kept on adding new facilities. The Lion Safari Park which was established in 1974 and Nocturnal Animal House established in the year 1982 were first of its kind in the country.

At Present this zoo is displaying animals belonging to 140 species numbering 1334. During this period this zoo received Common Marmosets, Spoon Bills from Alipore Zoo, Kolkata. Pig Tailed Macaque, Himalayan Black Bear, Leopard Cats from Sipahijala Zoo, Tripura and Mouse Deers from Sri Venkateshwara Zoological Park, Tirupati, 6 Nos of White backed Vultures from Sakkarbagh Zoo There are other animal exchange programmes belongs this Zoo and Patna & Mysore Zoos in the pipe line.

During this period most of the animal enclosures and visitor facilities were revamped. Efforts were made to make the zoo a plastic free area, A Plastic regulation counter was opened at the entrance gate which provides paper bags in place of polythine bags. Additional booking counters, Visitors Shelters, resting areas were created for the visitors.

This Zoo is spread over an area of 380 acres and a visitor can't see all the enclosures in one day on foot. Therefore bicycles were introduced in the zoo, and the visitors can hire these bicycles and can go around the zoo. This is helping the visitors in visiting the zoo completely.

There is more charm to a visit to the Nehru Zoological Park these days for few more species have been added to the wide and varied collection of animals, birds and reptiles here.

A pair Himalayan Goral which was brought here from Chattbir Zoo of Punjab as part of animal exchange programme last year, has given birth to a fawn a the zoo on Monday.

And there’s more. A pair of Albino Black Buck which was also brought under exchange from Chattbir Zoo too have given birth to a fawn a few weeks ago.

The zoo veterinarians said the new borns were in good health condition and are being cared by a team of animal keepers.

Timings : 8:30AM–4:30PM

Entry Fee
35 per Adult
20 per Child
25 for Amateur Still Camera
110 for Amateur Video Camera
500 for Professional Video Camera
1500 for trucks for film shooting
1000 for Car/Jeep

55 for Battery operated vehicles 

Now, those visiting the Nehru Zoological Park can book their ticket online by a few clicks, and avail WiFi facility within the Nehru Zoological Park premises. Minister for Forests and Environment Jogu Ramanna on Wednesday inaugurated the online portal www.hyderabadzoo.com which one can visit to book the tickets. This is the first time that any zoo in the country has introduced this facility, he said.

Those who book online will get their ticket on their mobile phone, which they can swipe at the special entrance for online bookings to enter the zoo. The online facility will be maintained by an outsourced agency, and handling charges will be levied on the tickets, apart from service tax and Swachh Bharat cess.

Source
http://www.hydzoo.com
https://telanganatoday.news/more-charm-nehru-zoo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nehru_Zoological_Park

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Mrugavani National Park

The Mrugavani National Park, located at Chilkuru in Moinabad, Rangareddy district is at a distance of about 25 kms from Hyderabad. The National Park is spread over 3.5 sq kms of pure, untamed land. The Indian government announced it a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1994 and since then, the park has been home to some 600 species of plants and animals.

The present day world has created its orbit around technology and modernism. The modern way of living has extensive demands and more and more of our Earth’s space and resources is what is at stake for. One can observe that national parks have eventually become the last sights of refuge for most indigenous species of animals as well as plants around the globe. Even governments of several countries have now become conscious of the importance of preserving these last species in wildlife sanctuaries.

The Mrugavani National Park in the state capital is an example of a beautiful national park turned major tourist attraction. What is most exciting is that in a land layered with exotic and immense natural resources like in India, it sure is a great achievement. The Mrugavani National Park, located at Chilkuru in Moinabad, is at a distance of about 25 kms from Hyderabad. The National Park is spread over 3.5 sq kms of pure, untamed land. The Indian government announced it a wildlife sanctuary in the year 1994 and since then, the park has been home to some 600 species of plants and animals. Like in the case of most national parks, even the Mrugavani national park has had least human intervention and interaction in order to make sure that all the precious creatures remain undisturbed in their cozy natural habitat.

We can see that the park has a topography made up of several rocky exposures that are characteristic of Deccan formation. The fauna of the wildlife sanctuary is as varied as they come. Foxes, black-naped hares, Wild boars, as well as Indian vipers are the most striking species for the curious traveler.

Mrugavani National park is accessible by road and located at a distance of nearly 20 km from Hyderabad enroute Chilkur, close to Nehru Outer Ring Road.

All days of the week : 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

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Manjeera Wildlife Sanctuary

Mangeera or Manjira wildlife sanctuary is located on the Manjeera river at Kalabgur,  Sangareddy District, Telangana State, India.

The charming part about this sanctuary is that one can take an adventurous boat ride for Bird watching in the Manjira Wildlife & Bird Sanctuary.

 

Originally a crocodile sanctuary, today more than 70 species of birds are spotted here and is home for the vulnerable species mugger crocodile. 

This man-made reservoir provides drinking water to Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

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Nallamala Hills

Nallamala Hills located in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is one of the most soothing hill stations,wrapped in an amazing beauty, shimmering gushing water, deep valleys and thick forests enchants the visitor’s mind and soul.

Pennar and Krishna are two big rivers in this region and Nallamala hills are located between these two rivers. The two big peaks of this hill range are Bhairani at 1100 meters distance from the sea level and Gundla Brahmeswara at 1048 meters level.

For most tourists taking the road to Srisailam, the view of the imposing dam with river Krishna’s waters gushing out of its gates and a darshan of Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy is not enough without a glimpse of dense Nallamala forest in Farahabad.

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Shamirpet Lake and Deer Park

Shamirpet Lake or Pedda Cheruvu is an artificial lake built during

the Nizam reign in 19th century.

Shamirpet Lake is very fine looking lake and its serene & calm environs makes it a great place to enjoy a lovely time. Near in the vicinity of Shamirpet Lake we have Deer Park too & the combination of both makes it a natural habitat for deer.

Many Telugu movies were also shot here, as well as in the neighbouring Jawahar Deer park, which has many deer, peacocks and birds. The lake is known to be dangerous, as many drowning incidents have been reported here.

One can always find a herd of deer quenching their thirst on the banks of the lake, which is a very fascinating sight. The area around the lake is covered in a large expanse of greenery and one will be able to spot several types of plants and trees here. Special attention has been paid to renovate the area and for this reason, forest cottages have been mounted near the lake for the convenience of tourists. 

One of the major activities held at the lakes is boating, which is a perfect way to explore the natural splendour of the lake. This is an amazing destination for photographers and bird-watchers.

The lake attracts many birds, making it a good birdwatching spot. A resort run by the Government of Telangana is located near the lake. The Outer Ring Road will pass close to the lake. There are many resorts and Private Dhabas around the lake.

In recent times, Shamirpet has become a hotspot in the city with several resorts coming up in the vicinity. The lake itself has become a popular place to spend evenings, bird watching and for the more adventurous, it is a perfect place for rock climbing.

Its beautiful rocky terrain gives us ample opportunity to use our skills to navigate around the boulders while keeping an eye on the lake and surrounding water bodies, sure is a sight for sore eyes. The lush green countryside too helps.

The highway passes along the banks of the lake and there is a very famous temple dedicated to Katta Maisamma, a local Goddess, just beside the road. People throng the temple on weekends and offer animal sacrifice and cook offerings nearby.

There is a path that leads to the lake, you can take your vehicles to the lake bed. Even during heavy monsoons, it has been ages since the lake filled up.

To really experience the lake one has to walk a bit further the trees, the rocks, the lake with the sunset in the horizon is sure to transport you to another world. This lake is not only a blessing for those looking for a quick get away, but also a living tale of why we must protect our lakes.

Jawahar Deer Park :If you want to spot the deer’s at its natural day life then you can get on to observational tower, which shows you entire Shamirpet lake and if you spent few minutes there with calmness you can spot deer’s coming forward from its hiding places or the deer enjoying a water bath in the lake.As the name indicate it’s a deer park so it’s obvious that it a park for deer protection as their population is drastically going down. Its located north from Secunderabad and it was built during the rule of Nizam kings in the 20th century. Jawahar Deer Park is also known as the Shamirpet Deer Park as it’s located in the vicinity of Shamirpet a man made lake constructed 50 years back. Its spread over an area of 80 acres allocated to deer’s and other animals.

Transportation

By Road: The transportation is available by Road, Air and Rail. The best way to reach the place is by road as the site is near the vicinity of Outer Ring Road, making it easily accessible through road.

By Train: Secunderabad Railway station is the nearest railway station to reach Shamirpet Lake.

By Air: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is the nearest airport to Shamirpet Lake.

Timings : 08:00 - 19:00

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Why-Hyderabadis-are-heading-to-Shamirpet-Lake/articleshow/54765185.cms

https://highwayonlyway.com/2013/07/25/high-on-hyderabad-ratnalayam-shamirpet-lake-picnic-hotspots/

https://crazyholidays.in/tours/details/575/jawahar-deer-park-with-shamirpet-lake

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Shivaram Wildlife Sanctuary

Sivaram Wildlife Sanctuary was set up in 1987, exclusively for the protection of marsh crocodiles.

Located along the holy River Godavari which is the lifeline to the Sivaram wildlife Sanctuary in Mancherial and Peddapalli districts of Telangana, the total area of this beautiful wildlife Sanctuary is approx. 36.29 sq kms.

Shivaram Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife preserve located nearly 10 km from Manthani and 50 km from Mancherial town in Telangana and is well accessible by road. Mancherial is the nearest railway station.

The deciduous vegetation of this sanctuary consisting of Timan, Terminalias, Teak, Gumpena, Kodsha. It also has some Thorny Shrubs. The wildlife sanctuary attracts a lot of tourists with its wide collection of fauna which includes Sloth bear, Nilgai, Panther, Langaur, Rhesus Monkey, Cheetal, etc.

Situated on the banks of River Godavari, this place is their natural habitat. This wild life sanctuary is a haven for nature lovers and nature photographers. The eco system in this Sanctuary is able to sustain various biotic communities and as a result visitors from the world over come to visit the place.

The marsh crocodiles are the fresh water crocodile which are also known as Mugger Crocodiles. These mugger crocodiles outnumber the salt water crocodiles, and can crawl for a considerable distances on land. These crocodiles that are equally mobile on land as well as in water, and this quality stands as the hot tourist attraction at Sivaram wildlife Sanctuary in Telangana.

Apart from crocodiles, this wild life sanctuary has a rich collection of flora and fauna. Teak, Bamboo, Timan, Gumpena, Kodsha, thorny shrubs and other deciduous vegetation are found here. Animals like the sloth bear, tiger, panther, cheetal, sambar, nilgai, black bucks, monkeys like the langur and the rhesus monkey and reptiles such as pythons make this their habitat.

Flora
The forest basically has five types of trees viz southern tropical teak forests, southern dry mixed deciduous forests; satin forests; bamboo brakes and baswellia forests. The flora includes teak, terminalias, tirman, kodsha, gumpena, abnus and thorny scrub.

Fauna
Sivaram sanctuary was initially declared as crocodile sanctuary to protect the endangered marsh crocodiles of river Godavari. Among the other fauna that can be found here are panther, slothbear, nilgai, cheeta, blackbuck, chousingha, langur, rhesus monkey, wild boar, sambar and python.

Accessibility
The sanctuary can be approached by road from Hyderabad to Manthani, the distance being 240 km. It can also be approached from Ramagundam and Mancherial.

Climate
Climate is generally hot and dry except during the South-West monsoons in the months of June-September.

The best time to visit the Sanctuary is in winter and the season starts from December to April.

Accommodation can be booked in advance at the Forest Rest House at Mancherial or Eklaspur. Food is also provided at the place for the inmates but for the other visitors, it is advised that they carry their food with them. There are no restaurants near the Sanctuary. Care should also be taken not to throw garbage or litter the areas. The animals are not to be provoked at any cost since the crocodiles are carnivorous.

The entire splendor of the forest can be seen during winter. The climate of the Sanctuary is very eco friendly and the richness of lush vegetation can be seen during the season.

Care has to be taken on the visit to the Sanctuary and the visitors are advised to travel on jeeps provided or they may take their vehicles.



http://beautyspotsofindia.com/sivaram-wild-life-sanctuary-in-adilabad-dist-andrapradesh/

http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/wildlife/karimnagar/shivaram-wildlife-sanctuary.html

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Jannaram Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary

Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary in the Jannaram forests of Mancherial district in Telangana has been declared as the 42nd tiger reserve in the country in 2012.

According to the department sources, the Kawal wildlife sanctuary has about 20 tigers as per an unofficial count. "By notifying it as a tiger reserve, we expect an increase in the number of tigers," a forest department official said.

Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the important wildlife sanctuaries in Telangana. The Kawal sanctuary houses various animals and several varieties of flora and fauna are seen here. If you want to get a glimpse of wild animals in their natural habitat, then, the Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary is a must see place. 

This Wildlife Sanctuary gives you a picturesque view of retreat. Every corner of this sanctuary is filled with adventure and thrill. Thousands of tourists visit this secluded animal kingdom to experience the thrills amidst wild beasts of the region. This sanctuary is located in the Mancherial district which is 50 kilometers from Mancherial and 250 kilometers from Hyderabad. The wildlife sanctuary is a dry and dense forest with teak, bamboo and many other varieties of trees. During summer, the Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary witnesses hot and dry climate. But the monsoon season that commences from June and continues till September adds life to the forest and makes it bliss. Winter is the perfect season to visit the sanctuary. 

The sanctuary houses several species animals including Cheetal, Sambar, Barking Deer, Nilgai, Sloth Bear, Indian Bison, Panther and Tiger. Tourists can also find reptiles like Crocodile, Python, Monitor Lizard, Star Tortoise and Cobra, in this wildlife sanctuary. This tourist spot also provides jeep safaris, and bird watching trips to spot several rare animals in their habitat.
“The tiger has finally arrived at Kawal,” stated a jubilant Jannaram Divisional Forest Officer, G. Ravinder, after he saw pug marks of the big cat near Dongapalli and Kawal villages within a span of a week earlier this month. “It will be safe here,” he observed, alluding to the safety of a highly improved habitat that Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) has become since its inception in 2012.

Kawal was declared a tiger reserve without the presence of even a single wild cat only because it had the potential of regaining its past glory. It’s spread in an area of 893 sq km of dense tropical dry deciduous forest to which about 1,120 sq km of buffer area was added subsequently.

It was assumed, which now seems to have been done rightly, that given proper conservation of the place there is a huge possibility of tigers migrating from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur adjoining Sirpur (T) forest in Adilabad district to their once glorious habitat of Kawal. “This tiger would have come from the TATR and travelled across Malini, Asifabad, Tiryani, Sirpur (U) before coming down the hilly range into KTR,” says KTR research associate Jogu Yellam.

As the tiger is an animal which is continuously on the move, it needs a completely safe habitat to become native, says Imran Siddqui of the Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society (HyTICOS), an NGO working towards tiger conservation in KTR. The government needs to look hard into this aspect as making the habitat safer involves voluntary relocation of villages to cut down human interference inside the forests.

The danger posed by anthropogenic disturbance to the survival of the big cat has been stressed upon in many scientific studies conducted at different Tiger Reserves across the country.

For example, the study ‘Glucocorticoid stress responses of reintroduced tigers in relation to anthropogenic disturbance in Sariska Tiger Reserve in India’ by Subhadeep Bhattarjee and other published in the Public Library of Science in June this year and ‘Studies to determine presence or absence of Indian tiger in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary’ by P. Anuradha Reddy and others of CCMB, Hyderabad, published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research in November 2010, make a vivid mention of the phenomenon.

The villagers of Dongapalli, Alinagar, Malial, Maisampet and Rampur located in the core area of KTR want to be relocated, yet the government is dithering the issue. The villagers are ready to accept the generous relocation package on offer.

Meanwhile, the troubling part is the decrease in the population of prey animals. Though the latest animal census figures have not been released yet, the population of ungulates and wild pigs decreased in 2014 to 4,300 and 2,500 from 6,000 each in 2013.









http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/the-tiger-finally-reaches-kawal-sanctuary/article7661220.ece




http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kawal-wildlife-sanctuary-declared-as-tiger-reserve/1/184064.html




http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Tigers-make-a-return-to-Kawal/articleshow/49876344.cms

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Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary

Pranahita (Blackbuck) Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1980, is one of the oldest protected areas of Telangana and is an ideal 'blackbuck habitat' with scrub jungle and mixed deciduous vegetation and scattered grasslands.

The Envirnoment Ministry has declared an area ranging from 0.1 kilometer to 5 kilometer from the boundary of Pranahita (blackbuck) Wildlife Sanctuary in Telangana as ESZs.

Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Chinnur-Mancherial forest division and covered area of 136 sqkm by Pranihita River. It is in Chinnur, Mancherial distrcit, Telangana. It is about 300 km from city of Hyderabad and 35 km away from Mancherial town

This sanctuary lies exactly between the latitudes 18 °41’ N - 19° 9’ N and longitudes 79°9’E - 79°57’E.

The Pranahita wildlife sanctuary covers an area of about 136sq.kms and is full of lush and dark teak forests. The river Pranahita carves its way in to this amazing sanctuary making it even more beautiful.

Pranahitha River flows adjoining the eastern boundary of sanctuary while Godavari River runs towards the southern boundary of this sanctuary, which is also renowned for the presence of prehistoric rock formations. The major wildlife found here includes Star Tortoise, Panther, Sloth Bear, Crocodile, Python, Indian Bison and Tiger. This Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the oldest and well protected wildlife areas of Telangana and was established in 1980, in Adilabad district in the northern part of the state.

Flora and FaunaThere are huge number of animals are found in Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary such as nilgai, sloth bear, jackal, black buck, panther, tiger, lion and cheetal. You can also birds like Teals, Herons, Brahminy Ducks, Storks and many birds.

It is famous for Blackbuck and over 20 species of reptiles, over 50 species of birds, over 40 species of mammals.

Wildlife lovers can spend a great time here watching the Indian Porcupine and other species of wild animals such as Hyena, Wild Dogs, Palm Civet, Indian Otter, Rhesus, Langur, Forest Cat, Sloth Boar, Leopard, Tiger, Nilgai and many more. The scrub jungle and the grasslands here is an ideal habitat for Blackbuck.

A Phytosociology analysis was carried out during 2006 and 2009 to study the vegetation status of this sanctuary. They also analyzed the recruitment and regeneration of Pranahitha vegetation. Recent years, the sanctuary is losing its glory. The construction and barrage on the Pranahitha River may deter tigers that cross over from Tadoba sanctuary of Maharashtra. The construction of canals may divide the habitat making the situation more difficult for various animals to freely move about and also lead to cultivation of these shrub lands both legally and illegally. The ultimate result is the shrinking of this beautiful forest land in those areas falling under Chennu, Kotapalli, Vemanpalli and Jaipur mandals where the effect of environmental degradation has devastated the widespread teak forests. Additionally, the construction work carried out on Nizamabad – Jagdalpur NH 16 has resulted in significant erosion of soil and resulted in increased traffic on the roads. The net result is the increased disturbance to animal life.


Best time to visit :October to June

Accommodation : At the forest rest house at Mancherial and Chinnur.

Access
By Air: The nearest airport is Hyderabad; 300 kms from Pranahita.
By Road: It is about 70 Km. from Mancherial which is well connected to most of the cities of India.

Temperature
The region is generally hot and dry and the min/max temperature varies from 15 to 40 C











http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/blog/pranahita-wildlife-sanctuary.html


http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/wildlife/adilabad/pranahita-wildlife-sanctuary.html

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/centre-notifies-two-wildlife-sanctuaries-as-eco-sensitive-zone-115010600964_1.html

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Pocharam Forest & Wildlife Sanctuary

Main Wildlife Attractions: Bar-Headed Goose, Brahminy Bucks,Open Billed Stork,Leopard,Sloth Bear, Sambar

Coverage Area: 130 sq.kms.

Established: 1952

Best Time to Visit:October to July

The low hills and the water pools serve the best place for

the wild animals to live in. The wildlife sanctuary is named after Pocharam Lake. The Pocharam Wildlife sanctuary was established to protect the wild animals from being extinct.

Pocharam Forest & Wildlife Sanctuary covers 130 sq kms in the district of Medak and Nizamabad. The wildlife sanctuary was established in the year 1952 by the Nizam of Hyderabad. The sanctuary is the homeland of various species of animals and birds. Panther, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, Chowsingha, Chinkara, Hyena and Jackal are the main attractions of the sanctuary. The river Manjira is the main river that adds life to the jungle. The water body is nestling for the fish like Catla, Rahu, Murrel, Ech Paten, Karugu and Chidwa. Crocodile, fresh water turtles, Cobra and Marsh can be located in this sanctuary.

The floras of the sanctuary make the sanctuary livelier with green vegetation like Babul prosopis, Pistia, Hydrilla, Eichornia and Vallisneria. The tree tops remain populated by migratory birds and their sound vibrates the area and makes it lively.

The nine small islands are the main breeding areas for birds, crocodiles and turtles. Birds like Painted Storks, herons, Coots, Teals, Cormorants, Pochards, Black and White Ibises, Spoon Bills and Open Billed Storks make their nests in these tranquil islands.

The best season is from the month of October to July. The nearest railway station is Hyderabad which is 150 kms away from the sanctuary. Tourists can avail the road route as Macherla is the nearby town and regular bus and jeep services are available to reach the sanctuary.

Safari

You can go for a small ride or walk in the sanctuary where a 4.5 km path goes through the forest and the marshland. Water from the Dam comes into the forest. So you need to be careful while walking around. Trees were not very high but their thin branches were intricately woven with each other making a net like formation, making the jungle look thick. We saw lots of Deer’s, most of the times in a bunch of 20 or so, but they ran away as soon as we went near them. There were peacocks, most of them roaming alone in the forest. Most abundant in the forest were butterflies and it was like being in a butterfly park. There was color flying on all sides, on roads, on leaves, on flowers and just in the air.

Birds
If you can identify birds, you would love this place. There were many birds big and small, single-hued and multi-colored. A watchtower in the middle of the jungle lets you have a bit of bird’s eye view of the lake and the forest around. I must warn you to climb the watchtower at your own risk. The wrought iron staircase is tilted and the elevation does not allow you to stand on any stair. In the case of any accident, there is no medical aid available in sight. View from the top is wonderful, though. Most of us urban people hardly get to see so much of nature around us.

Pocharam Dam
A little ahead of the sanctuary is a small dam on a tributary of Manjeera River. Yes, the same river that supplies water to Hyderabad. This is not exactly a dam but a broad wall with perforations on it. At first sight, I was amused to see cars parked, motorbikes being raced and a row of people standing below the water falling from the top. It seemed like a picnic spot, a kind of rudimentary water park for people to enjoy during and post monsoon. We thought for a while and then decided to cross this wall by car and go to the other side, and happy that we did that.

There was a large reservoir with another equally thick but a longer wall. Water was overflowing and walking on the wall was like walking through water. Those who knew swimming jumped into the water. And the rest of us had to be content with clicking the pictures of divers. Sun setting on the water and people jumping around in water was such a serene and joyous time.

A good post monsoon getaway!

This sanctuary can be reached by private transport from Medak. Pocharam Forest was the favourite hunting ground of the Nizam and he declared it as a wild life sanctuary in the early part of 20th century.

Named after the Pocharam lake formed from damming of the Allair in the year 1916 - 1922, it is spread over . Surrounded by lush green forest, it is rich in flora and fauna and attracts a lot of winged visitors, like the Bar-Headed Goose, Brahminy Bucks and Open Billed Stork.

There is a center for Eco-tourism where visitors can see five species of Antelopes and Deer. Summer temperature goes up to 46 C & in winter it drops to 6 C. The sanctuary is home to animals like Leopard, Forest Cat, Wild Dog, Wolf, Jackal, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chital, and Four horned Antelope.

On Sundays and holidays large number of visitors arrive there and spend time from morning till evening.

A giant building constructed in 1918 could have been a major attraction, but has been neglected leading to its sheen getting lost. Partly damaged walls and burnt doors explain its fate and what it faced in the last nine decades.

One can get panoramic view of lush green fields from the building and the filled reservoir offers the right ambience for spending a relaxed holiday.

Amenities

However, there are no basic facilities like drinking water, shelter and toilets. With unavailability of these facilities, one has to take every precaution when he/she plans a visit to the spot.

Now that the reservoir is full, the newly formed Medak district administration has been thinking of developing tourism and giving impetus to generating revenue resource by developing the place.

http://www.inditales.com/pocharam-wildlife-sanctuary-dam/

http://www.inditales.com/pocharam-wildlife-sanctuary-dam/

http://placeandsee.com/wiki/pocharam-forest-wildlife-sanctuary

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/pocharam-to-be-developed-into-a-tourist-destination/article9290188.ece

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Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary

The Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Bhadradri Kothagudem, district of Telangana, India. This exotic wildlife sanctuary is the natural habitat of some exotic wild life and tourists visiting the sanctuary can easily spot the wide range of animals taking shelter in their natural homes. With such a a sanctuary, the government gives these animals a scope to enjoy their life and regenerate. 

The wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 635.4 square kilometers and this plentiful land serves as the native land for several endangered species. This sanctuary got its name after the river Kinnerasani. 

This river divides the sanctuary and meets Godavari. The fauna found in this sanctuary are Panthers, Chinkara, Chousinghas, Sambar, Cheetal, Gaurs, Hyena, Jackals, Wild Boars, Tigers, Sloth Bear, and Black Bucks. Tourists can also spot a number of birds like Jungle Fowl, Quails, Partridges, Peafowl, Nuktas, Spoonbills, Teals, and Doves.

The wildlife sanctuary is located at a distance of 24 kms from Kothagudem and 12 Kms from Palvancha town and is accessible by road.

There are forest rest houses available at Paloncha, Kothagudem & Bhadrachalam. Haritha Hotel Bhadrachalam, located 40 km away, operated by Telangana Tourism is an ideal accommodation option for travellers looking for a comfortable resort.

Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit this place is between June to October. After October, as the winter approaches, wild animals take maximum rest in their dens/holes.

http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/wildlife/khammam/kinnerasani-wildlife-sanctuary.html

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Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary

Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at Eturnagaram village in the district of Mulugu, Telangana, India.

About: It is known to be one of the oldest sanctuaries in Telangana. In the year of 1952, on 30th January, the erstwhile Hyderabad Government declared it as sanctuary for its rich bio-diversity. Most of the statuary place is plain and one fourth is hilly. Godavari River passes through the sanctuary.

Distance: The distance of this Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary from Hyderabad is about 200 km and from Warangal about 55 km.

Park specifications : It is coverage areas about 812 km,Here Tigers, Panthers, Gaur, Sambar,Cheetal, Nilgiri and Blackbuck are the main attraction of the park.

Flora and Fauna 

Flora: The Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary has teak and other related plants such as thiruman, maddi, bamboo, mdhuca, terminlia and pterocarpus.

Fauna: A perennial water source is known as ‘DayyamVagu’ which separates into two halves. It is a place of Tigers, Leopards, Wolf, Dholes, Golden jackals, Sloth bear, Chousignha, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Sambar, Spotted deer, Chinkara, Indian giant squirrels and plenty of birds. Of course, there are many Reptiles can be seen here such as crocodile, Pythod, Cobra, Kraite and Star.

Best time to visit : October to April

Accommodation : Forest Cottages and Rest House Tadvai, ITDA Guest House at Eturnagaram

Arrival info for Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary: 

By Rail : Warangal railway station is the nearest one which is about 90 km

By Road : It is 55km from Warangal and 200 km from Hyderabad.

By Air : (Hyderabad) Shamshabad airport is nearest to Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary.

http://www.sanctuariesindia.com/eturnagaram-wildlife-sanctuary/

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Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary

Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1952 is located near Pakhalashoknagar Village, Khanapur Mandal, Warangal District, Telangana State, India. It is located by the boundary of Pakhal Lake / Cheruvu, so it was named on the name of lake. It was built to serve as source of water for irrigational purpose. About 10 km from Narsampet town and 57 km from Warangal city, Pakhal lake is one of the few unpolluted lakes in India. This Lake was constructed by Jagadala Mummandi , a son of Bayyana Nayaka , Minister of the Kakatiya King Ganapati Deva in 1213 AD.

The sanctuary covers an area of 879.30 sq. km and is bestowed with rare flora and fauna. Some of the wild animals that can be spotted here at the Pakhal Wildlife sanctuary are Leopard, wild boar, panthers, hyenas, sloth bear, chital, mountain gazelle, blackbuck, four-horned antelope or chousingha and many others. Reptiles such as python, cobra, crocodiles, monitor lizard, etc., can also been seen in the sanctuary. One can also see a wide variety of migratory birds during the month of November to March. The afforestation drive is also attracting rare owl species like the Dusky Eagle-Owl, which is now a crowd puller at the Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary.Thick-billed green pigeon, which is a very rare record in Telangana, and yellow-footed pigeon, too, have been spotted at Pakhal.  Last time, a tiger was sighted in Rampur forest of Pakhal Wildlife sanctuary in 2009.

The wildlife sanctuary is consisted of various kinds of herbs, shrubs and climbers. It consists mainly of deciduous vegetation such as Emblica officinalis, Cordifolia, Bombax ceiba, Cleistanthus collinus, Flacourtia indica, Bridelia retusa, Dalbergia latifolia, Cochlospermum religiosum, Garuga pinnata. A few of the evergreen species are also seen such as Mallotus philippensis and Aegle marmelos.
It is said to be one of beautiful places on the earth as has greener pastures. Especially during winter, plenty of migrated birds come over here. Animals like Tiger, Wild Dogs, Panthers, Storks, Foxes Hyena, Gaurs, Teals, Spotted Deer’s, Pythons, Jackals, Ducks, Sloth Bears, Nilgai, and Sambars.

The forest department which is taking several steps to promote the Pakhal Lake as one the most sought after tourist spots in the State is planning to introduce night camping and jungle safari facilities in the Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary in the district. It is already developing amenities like seating areas by setting up the fence covering seven acres of the land on a hillock abutting the Pakhal Lake in an attempt to provide safe shelter for the tourists in view of the growing monkey menace. 

Forest Department prepared plans to develop Pakhal lake, which is part of the Pakhal wildlife sanctuary, at an estimated cost of Rs 1.50 crore in a bid to promote eco-tourism. While a day camping facility is available near the lake, officials plan to set up a canopy walkway (treetop walk) and others soon. 

This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.

Best time to visit : November – June

Accommodation : Forest Rest House provided by the Telangana Tourism Board which is comfortable for visitors.
How to reach Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary: By Road: Sanctuary is situated at a distance of 50-km from Warangal, Number of buses are available.

By Rail: The nearest rail station is Warangal. Visitors can take Narsampet-Warangal Division which is 50 kms from Warangal.


By Air: Hyderabad is the nearest airport Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary.


https://telanganatoday.com/warangal-night-camping-jungle-safari-to-be-introduced-at-pakhal-lake-soon

https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/book-on-pakhal-biodiversity-525362

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