Nagpur: A high-level meeting held between forest officials from Maharashtra and Telangana in Chandrapur will now see greater collaboration between both states in tiger conservation. The meeting held earlier this week at the Chandrapur Forest Academy, brought together key officials and experts from both sides to deliberate on strategic partnership specifically for the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) and the Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR) as there is wildlife habitat connectivity across the border. The teams gave in-depth presentations about what they are currently implementing in their areas and proceeded to policy deliberations which highlighted shared challenges and strategies in tiger conservation. The key areas of focus included habitat corridor management, mitigation of human-wildlife conflict, strengthening field-level protection measures, and promoting sustainable eco-tourism initiatives. Officials from both states shared field experiences and best practices, reflecting a unified approach to wildlife stewardship.As part of the summit, the delegation visited crucial conservation sites within the Tadoba landscape, including the unit of the Rapid Response Team (RRT), the Transit Treatment Centre (TTC), and the Control Room at Rambagh. These visits provided participants with a close look at Maharashtra’s use of advanced technology in wildlife monitoring and crisis response. The meeting concluded with a consensus on developing future joint initiatives such as shared patrol intelligence, coordinated corridor management, and inter-state capacity-building programmes.Maharashtra and Telangana reaffirmed their dedication to a cooperative model of tiger conservation rooted in scientific research, technological innovation, and community involvement.N Ramanujam, chief conservator of forests, Chandrapur circle, chaired the summit, with other officials like M Shantaram, field director of Kawal Tiger Reserve (Telangana), and Prabhunath Shukla, field director of TATR in attendance. Kushagra Pathak (deputy director, TATR buffer zone), Sachin Shinde (DFO, TATR Chandrapur), and Sushant Bobade (DFO, Kagaznagar, Telangana), alongside assistant conservators of forests (ACFs), range forest officers (RFOs), and regional research teams. Ajinkya Bhatkar, regional head of WWF, also participated in the discussions.
