8% of Kanha tiger reserve core zone developed as grasslands

BHOPAL: With an aim to provide healthy herbivores for tigers in the world famous Kanha tiger reserve, eight percent of its core zone has been developed as grassland in vacated forest villages which have been located elsewhere.

Grasslands in these vacated villages are developed by National Park Management through efficient scientific methods, an official release said today.

If a grassland is degraded due to over-grazing, then it is stopped through chain link fencing and simultaneously the cover (fencing) of new grassland is removed, it said.

This tiger reserve is spread across Mandla and Balaghat districts in Madhya Pradesh.

Grass grows densely 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 also uprooted, it said.

Generally during monsoon, saplings of saja, tendu, lediya and palash among other 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 of swamp deer also in Kanha as female swamp deer gives birth to her foals in tall grass in view of safety, the release said.