Tigers and leopards roam freely in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), the largest tiger reserve in India. The wild animals seen in the accompanying photo were caught on sensor based nigh-vision camera arranged by Mr AK Naik, the director of the Reserve some days ago.
The picture shows an adult tiger (left) and two cubs in a relaxed mood and enjoying their freedom in a breezy summer night.
The tiger population in the NSTR is said to be on the decrease over a period of time and there is a hue and cry for initiating more preservative steps for increasing the population of the wild animals.
The NSTR, spread over five districts of the Nallamala mountain ranges in Andhra Pradesh and encompassing more than 3,500 sq km, was an abode for nearly 100 tigers in 1990. But a census conducted in 1997 said that the tiger population had come down to about 20.
There are no correct figures of the present Tiger population living in the prestigious NSTR but who will hold the responsibility for the reduction in the numbers?
