But for the timely intervention of the Forest Department, the sighting of the striped hyena in Bejjur mandal of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district on June28 would have turned into yet another incident of man-animal conflict. Anxious villagers would certainly have killed it not realising that the hapless and scared wild animal actually indicates the richness of biodiversity in their forests.
The four districts in Telangana which hitherto constituted undivided Adilabad now present a contrasting picture when it comes to environment and biodiversity. The last few years have not only seen more number of footfalls of serious environmentalists in these parts but also saw some heavy destruction of pristine nature, much of it being part of governmental development activity.
The four districts, Adilabad, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial and Nirmal, encompass a geographical area of 16,000 sq km, 43% of which was under green cover until the late 1970s when organised felling of forests started. The Forest Department nevertheless, continues to project the same extent as being under green cover.
High points
Formation of Kawal Tiger Reserve in 2012 and discovery of a vulture habitat in remote Bejjur the following year were the high points so far as biodiversity is concerned. This was followed with some diligent conservation work in these two places, the latter having natural springs and abundant water sources to support wild animals which includes the flow of the perennial Pranahita river and Peddavagu stream.
Bejjur forests in Kagaznagar division in KB Asifabad can be a case in point when it comes to richness of biodiversity.
There is a long list of the flora and fauna here which has been compiled over the last few years which includes three types of carnivorous plants, 200 types of birds, 25 types of mammals and equal number of reptiles and raptors in addition to the Kondapalli wood fossils.
Miscellaneous variety
“The diversity owes itself to the miscellaneous variety of forests. Such forests support a vast range of plant and wild animal life,” reveals Bejjur Forest Range Officer M. Ram Mohan Rao.
The forest department would do well to employ experts in all aspects of environment so that forests can be surveyed and species catalogued, especially the flora which has remained comparatively neglected.
“This will definitely help in initiating conservation in case of species under threat,” the Forest Range Officer concurred.
Bejjur is expecting experts from Environmental Protection Training and Research Institute, Hyderabad. Project faculty D. Veeranjaneyulu, who was apparently impressed by the range of biodiversity in Bejjur, is likely to pay a visit in near future.
