The forest department of Jharkhand is making efforts to boost prey availability for predators. In this regard, four ‘soft-release centres’ for cheetals are under construction in Jharkhand’s Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR). According to a forest official, the fifth centre is in the process of being set up in Budha Pahar area, once a stronghold of Maoists.
A ‘soft release centre’ is where the animals are kept close to the place where they will be later released.
The Cheetals will be shifted from the Betla area of the sanctuary to a ‘soft-release centre’ and this initiative is expected to bring the tigers back to the PTR. In March 2023, a tiger was spotted in PTR after more than three decades. The state forest department has also decided to develop grasslands and construct a check dam at the foothills of Budha Pahar in Latehar and Garhwa districts, about 150 km from the state capital Ranchi.
The foothills of Budha Pahar in the Kutku Range have long been a tiger corridor between Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Development of grasslands and construction of ‘soft-release centres’ and check dams may increase the frequency of tiger calls in the future in the area, which is close to the Guru Ghasidas National Park (GGNP) in Chhattisgarh. GGNP also connects Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh and provides a corridor for movement of tigers between Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh and PTR in Jharkhand.
Speaking to media, PTR (North) Deputy Director Prajesh Jena said, “The National Tiger Reserve Authority (NTCA) has given in-principle approval to our proposals. We have currently submitted a demand for funds to NTCA for a soft-release centre, development of grassland and check dam at the foot of Budha Pahar.”
The area has been notorious for Maoist activities, but very soon it will be known as a wildlife centre.
