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{{Short description|Wildlife sanctuary in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Kawal Tiger Reserve
| alt_name = Jannaram forest
| iucn_category = IV
| iucn_ref =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| map = India Telangana#India
| map_width =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in Telangana
| relief = yes
| mapframe = Yes
| location = [[Mancherial district]], [[Telangana]]
| nearest_city =
| coordinates = {{coord|19.1188949|N|78.9989734|E|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref =
| area_km2 = 2015.44
| established = 2012
| visitation_num =
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| visitation_ref =
| governing_body =
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}}
[[File:Kawal tiger reserve.jpg|thumb|The outer view of Reserve]]
'''Kawal Tiger Reserve,''' is a [[Nature reserve|nature preserve]] located in [[Jannaram]] mandal of [[Mancherial district|Mancherial District]] in the [[Telangana]] state of [[India]]. Previously, the area was part of [[Adilabad district]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Kawal-to-be-developed-as-eco-tourism-centre/articleshow/10599432.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805015402/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-11-04/hyderabad/30358928_1_eco-tourism-aptdc-tiger-reserve |url-status=live |archive-date=2013-08-05 |title=Kawal to be developed as eco-tourism centre |date=2011-11-04 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2012-03-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/zoo-park-stripped-of-striped-beauty/191885-60-121.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709121218/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/zoo-park-stripped-of-striped-beauty/191885-60-121.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-09 |title=Zoo park stripped of striped beauty - South India - Hyderabad - ibnlive |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |access-date=2012-03-17}}</ref> The [[Government of India]] declared Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary to be a [[tiger]] [[Project Tiger|reserve]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/kawal-wildlife-sanctuary-declared-tiger-reserve/article3301822.ece |title=Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary declared tiger reserve |work=The Hindu |date=2012-04-11 |access-date=2015-02-06}}</ref> The reserve is the oldest sanctuary in the northern Telangana. It is known for its rich biodiversity, including a variety of [[flora]] and [[fauna]]. This sanctuary is catchment for the rivers [[Godavari]] and [[Kadam river|Kadam]], which flow towards the south of the sanctuary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://forests.telangana.gov.in/WildLife/Kawal.htm|title=Kawal Wildlife Tiger Reserve|website=forests.telangana.gov.in|access-date=10 March 2017|archive-date=10 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910105027/http://forests.telangana.gov.in/WildLife/Kawal.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== History ==
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 [[tiger]] [[Tiger reserves of India|reserve]] in April 2012.<ref>{{cite news| last=Singh | first=S. Harpal | title=Kawal tiger reserve a green oasis | website=The Hindu | date=30 September 2012 | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/kawal-tiger-reserve-a-green-oasis/article55685117.ece | access-date=11 May 2023}}</ref> Due to this status, it was developed as a tiger habitat with the release of 150 [[cheetal]]s 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 district|Adilabad]] and [[Komaram Bheem Asifabad district|Komuram Bheem]] on the north, [[Karimnagar district|Karimnagar]] and [[Nizamabad district|Nizamabad]] on the south and [[Nanded district]] on the west. It is located in the Mancherial district at a distance of {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}} from its district headquarters. It extended from the [[Sahayadri Hills|Sahyadri hillranges]] to the [[Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve|Tadoba forest]] in [[Maharashtra]] (GoAP2012; Rajagopal 1976)<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Rathod |first1=Bikku and Rambabu M|title=Tiger Reserve in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary: Issues and Concerns|journal=International Journal of Innovative Research and Practices|volume=1|issn=2321-2926}}(</ref>
It is spread over an area of {{convert|893|km2|abbr=on}}, nearly 220,800 acres.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/06/stories/2007100650190200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013181843/http://hindu.com/2007/10/06/stories/2007100650190200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-10-13 |title=Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : 'Carry on Heaven' play to be staged tomorrow |date=2007-10-06 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2012-03-17}}</ref>

The reserve is accessible from Mancherial {{convert|50|km|mi}} and from [[Hyderabad]] {{convert|270|km|mi}} by road. The nearest [[Rajiv Gandhi International Airport|airport is in Hyderabad]].

== Wildlife ==

=== Flora ===
The sanctuary is one of the richest [[Teak tree|teak forests]] in the state, with dense pristine areas free of human disturbance. The River Godavari flows through this area. Dry [[deciduous]] teak forests mixed with [[bamboo]], [[terminalia (plant)|terminalia]], [[pterocarpus]], [[Anogeissus leiocarpa|anogeissus]] and [[Cassia (genus)|cassias]].

=== Fauna ===
[[Mammal]] species that have been sighted include [[Bengal Tiger|tiger]], [[leopard]], [[gaur]], [[Chital|cheetal]], [[Sambar deer|sambar]], [[nilgai]], [[barking deer]], [[chowsingha]], and [[sloth bear]]. Several species of [[Bird|birds]] and [[reptiles]] are also found in the sanctuary.

About 48 tigers are currently staying at the sanctuary, according to unofficial government sources, a number which the government hopes will increase over time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jannaram Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary|url=https://www.telangana360.com/2016/11/jannaram-kawal-wildlife-sanctuary.html|access-date=2021-06-07|website=Telangana 360}}</ref>

==Threats==
It is increasingly getting threatened by growing human encroachment, rampant poaching, illegal wood felling and habitat loss.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
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

==External links==
* [http://forests.telangana.gov.in/WildLife/Kawal.htm Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910105027/http://forests.telangana.gov.in/WildLife/Kawal.htm |date=10 September 2019 }}

{{Protected areas in Telangana}}

[[Category:Eastern Highlands moist deciduous forests]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries of Telangana]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1965]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in Andhra Pradesh]]

{{Adilabad-geo-stub}}
{{India-protected-area-stub}}
[[Category:Mancherial district]]

Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary - Revision history

XMC.PL-Master at 00:04, 23 February 2026