Amaravati, July 29 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday said that the state government is working with Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for the translocation of female tigers to strengthen the tiger population in the Eastern Ghats.
“As part of our long-term vision to strengthen tiger populations in the Eastern Ghats, we are actively working with the Governments of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for the translocation of female tigers to enhance genetic diversity and ensure a healthy, sustainable tiger population in Andhra Pradesh,” Pawan Kalyan, who is also the Forest and Environment Minister, said in a message on the occasion of International Tiger Day.
“The tiger is India’s National Animal, the guardian of our forests, and the symbol of a healthy ecosystem. Protecting the tiger means protecting our forests, rivers, biodiversity, and the ecological balance that sustains life. On International Tiger Day, I reaffirm Andhra Pradesh’s unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation,” he said.
“Our pride, the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, India’s largest Tiger Reserve, has recorded a promising 68 tigers and 11 cubs in the ongoing All India Tiger Estimation 2026, reflecting the positive impact of sustained conservation efforts,” he added.
Pawan Kalyan noted that from strengthening anti-poaching infrastructure and expanding protection camps from 89 to 150, to deploying advanced technologies such as drones, camera traps, M-STrIPES, and flagship initiative HANUMAN, Andhra Pradesh is embracing science-led conservation while empowering local communities, especially Chenchus, as equal partners in protecting forests.
“Let us join hands to ensure that the roar of the tiger continues to echo across the forests of Nallamala, inspiring us all to protect nature and preserve the priceless biodiversity of our Nation,” he added.
Meanwhile, on the occasion of International Tiger Day, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy called upon everyone to embrace tiger conservation as a social responsibility to ensure a rich natural heritage for future generations.
“The tiger is not just a symbol of the forest; it is the king that safeguards the balance of nature. If tigers are safe, forests are safe, and thereby biodiversity, water resources, and the environment are also protected,” he stated.
The Chief Minister emphasised that it is of utmost importance for everyone to fulfil their share of responsibility in protecting tiger habitats, curbing forest destruction, preventing illegal hunting of wildlife, and conserving the environment.
–IANS
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