The KWS was established in 1965 and later declared as a Protected Area (PA) in 1999 under the WPA, 1972.
Tiger reserve status
It was listed as a tigerreserve in April 2012.[5] Due to this status, it was developed as a tiger habitat with the release of 150 cheetals as a prey population. To reduce poaching, new checkposts have been created. Traditional sources of water were improved.
Location
Mancherial district is situated between 18.8756° N, 79.4591° E. It is surrounded by Adilabad and Komuram Bheem on the north, Karimnagar and Nizamabad on the south and Nanded district on the west. It is located in the Mancherial district at a distance of 50 km (31 mi) from its district headquarters. It extended from the Sahyadri hillranges to the Tadoba forest in Maharashtra (GoAP2012; Rajagopal 1976)[6]
It is spread over an area of 893 km2 (345 sq mi), nearly 220,800 acres.[7]
The reserve is accessible from Mancherial 50 kilometres (31 mi) and from Hyderabad 270 kilometres (170 mi) by road. The nearest airport is in Hyderabad.
About 48 tigers are currently staying at the sanctuary, according to unofficial government sources, a number which the government hopes will increase over time.[8]
Threats
It is increasingly getting threatened by growing human encroachment, rampant poaching, illegal wood felling and habitat loss.
^Rathod, Bikku and Rambabu M. "Tiger Reserve in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary: Issues and Concerns". International Journal of Innovative Research and Practices. 1. ISSN2321-2926.(
Tiger Reserve in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary: Issues and Concerns by Bikku Rathod and M Rambabu published in
International Journal of Innovative Research and Practices Vol.1, Issue 1, January 2013ISSN 2321-2926