As the Gorewada Rescue Centre is running out of space to accomodate rescued tigers and leopards, the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) is going to expand its capacity by adding 20 more cages. Currently, there are 10 cages for tigers, 20 cages for leopards, five cages for small mammals, five cages for sloth bears, five cages for monkeys and six cages for herbivores in Gorewada Rescue Centre. However, this capacity has already been exhausted.

 

“We are planning to install 20 more cages, 10 for tigers and 10 for leopards in the Centre. The tendering process will be completed in a week or two. The total cost for construction of these cages is Rs 10 crore,” Shatnik Bhagwat, Zoo Director, Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoo told The Hitavada. The public works department (PWD) has already finalised the estimate of the project and it will start soon, said Bhagwat. The management was planning to increase the number of enclosures in the Rescue Centre from the last three years. In recent times it has become a tough task for the authorities to accomodate additional animals, especially tigers and leopards.

 

“Couple of months ago, there were more than 14 tigers in GRC. One cage can accomodate only one tiger, so we accommodated excess tigers in herbivorous enclosures,” said Bhagwat. The GRC transferred some tigers to other zoos in recent time due to which the number has dropped. “Currently we have 8 tigers in the rescue centre. But the number will increase further. Similarly, in 20 cages we have 24 leopards which has already exhausted the carrying capacity. Therefore, more cages for tigers and leopards are needed in the rescue centre,” claimed the senior officer. Considering the increasing man-animal conflict in Nagpur district and in Vidarbha, possibility of more problem tigers and leopards being brought to GRC in near future, we require more cages to accomodate the big cats,” said Bhagwat.