Sahyadri tiger reserve, Radhanagari to get more camera traps soon

KOLHAPUR: Sahyadri tiger reserve (STR) and the wildlife sanctuaries in Radhanagari and Sagareshwar will soon be equipped with more camera traps, tents and wireless systems. The department is spending Rs 71 lakh on the new equipment.

The department has received approval from the state forest department to purchase the equipment and the process has been started. According to the forest department officials, the equipment are expected to be installed before the monsoon.

While the wireless system will be utilized in Sagareshwar, the other added facilities such as camera traps, tents and watch-towers will be established at the STR covering Koyna wildlife sanctuary, Chandoli national park and Radhanagari sanctuary.

"We have received approval for some of the development projects. We are improving eco-tourism facilities at the STR. Tents will be constructed at Vasota fort, one of the most famous destinations in the STR region. Every year, hundreds of tourists visit the fort situated in Satara district. Besides, we are also starting three boats in Koyna dam backwaters. The boats will take the tourists from Bamnoli to Koyna and back," said M M Panditrao, divisional forest officer of Koyna region.

In March last year, the forest department had activated wireless service at Radhanagari forest. Officials in Koyna have had the facility since 2011, while Chandoli was connected since 2013.

"The new wireless service will connect all the areas to Sagareshwar. Besides, we are also installing almost 40 camera traps in Koyna," Panditrao said.

STR and Radhanagari collectively have more than 90 camera traps. However, considering more than 1,400 sq km area of the two forests, the forest department is installing more traps to capture wildlife movement.

The department is also installing wireless facility at its headquarters in Tarabai Park in the city. It has licence of a frequency registered under the Koyna region. Using the licence, the department is connecting forests through wireless technology.

"We will finalize the bidders by next week. Once the bidding process ends, we will start receiving wireless sets, tents, etc. We are also installing informative display boards in the sanctuaries. Some of the boards are old and needs replacement," Panditrao added.