Hyderabad / Vikarabad :
Picturesque Ananthagiri hill-forest, located only 5 km from Vikarabad, received 19 antelopes on Sunday. Senior officials, chief secretary P K Mohanty, DGP B Prasada Rao and principal chief conservator of forest BSS Reddy were present at the hill resort, 75 km from Hyderabad, to release the animals in the reserve forest. They let into the forest 14 spotted deer – females and 6 males – that were brought from Hyderabad’s Nehru Zoological Park. At the same time, 5 blackbucks – three females and two males – brought from Tirupati’s Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park were also released.
“There are no blackbucks in Ananthagiri reserve forest. This is the first time they are being introduced to the area which is rich in grassland and deciduous forest,” Ramana Reddy, chief conservator of forest, Hyderabad Range, told TOI.
The officials led by A Joseph, chief wildlife warden, gathered at the forest guest house atop Ananthagiri hill overseeing the Haritha Hotel of AP Tourism Development Corporation. They were later taken deep into the forest for releasing the animals.
The reserve forest block is spread over 1,505 hectares, which is chiefly grassland. Its existing wildlife mainly comprises spotted deer (chital), chowsingha, nilgai, wild boar and peacocks etc. “The nilgai had disappeared from the area about five decades ago. It was sighted a few years back again. Now, they are seen roaming in the forest in large groups,” Joseph said.
B S S Reddy said that Ananthagiri RF was chosen for releasing the animals as the department considers it to be the best area close to Hyderabad. “There is resurgence of herbivorous animals in Ananthagiri and its surroundings,” he said.
Ananthagiri forest block is one of the series of RFs in Manneguda and Vikarabad that connects up to Tandore and beyond. They cover a stretch of 20 km and are spread over 6,124 hectares. Except for the wolves and wild dogs, there are no predators in the forest.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad> Animals / TNN / January 20th, 2014