Healthy herbivores, healthy tiger! Grass management at Kanha Tiger Reserve

Bhopal: Tigers are main attraction of Asia’s one of the best tiger reserves Kanha. Eight percent of Kanha’s core zone has been developed as grassland so that healthy herbivores remain available for tigers. The grasslands have been developed in vacated forest villages, which have been relocated elsewhere.

Grasslands are developed by National Park Management through efficient scientific management. If a grassland is degraded due to over-grazing, grazing therein is stopped through chain link fencing and fencing of new grassland is removed. Grass grows profusely again in the closed grasslands after 2-3 monsoons. If grassland is badly degraded, then it is ploughed and good quality grass is planted there. Through weed management, weeds grown in the area is uprooted.

Generally during monsoon, saplings of saja, tendu, lediya, palash etc. trees start growing. They are uprooted before end of monsoon to avoid grassland being converted to jungle. In this way, both fodder and dwelling are of herbivores remain intact.

Tall grass is specially grown for endangered specie swamp deer also in Kanha. Female swamp deer gives birth to her foals in tall grass in view of safety.

For saving wildlife reserved area during summer, most of the fire lines including cutting and burning of grass in forest roads, pathways, cells, complex etc are completed before February. These fire lines help check spread of fire in case any area catches fire. Special watchtowers are also erected during fire season to control fire immediately.