Tillari Script

 

Tillari (Script)

Rajendra P Kerkar
Faruk Mhetar

The mountain ranges of Western Ghats are the lifelines for South India. The southernmost part of Maharashtra in the Western Ghats share the boundaries with Goa and Karnataka. This tri- junction has dense evergreen, semi evergreen, and moist deciduous types of forests. Through out Maharashtra, Tillari region possess one of the most dense forest cover ever, that offer the natural abode to myriads of creatures, number of mammals, variety of birds, butterflies and insects.

The Tillari river, the lifeline of this region originates at Tudye in Chandgad tahsil of Kolhapur district, as the Tillottama. It flows through the historic Ramghat where three streams joins together and the people begin to call it as the Tillari.

The Tillari Irrigation Project, a joint venture of Goa and Maharashtra that was completed in 2009 to impound 462.17 MCM of water. This project has submerged seven villages of Maharashtra along with 202.92 ha of forest.

Tillari valley has been always attraction for human beings as well as wild animals since the hoary past. The people who are living in the densely forested villages have considered the elements of floral and faunal wealth as their companions. Even during Shigmo at the temple of Mayegawas the enactment of striped tiger is done to express the gratitude to tiger as the folk deity through the Vagh khel.

In 2001, when the elephants entered the Tillari region through the forest of Mhadei region of Karnataka and Goa, the wild lifers realise the greatness of this natural habitat. Since last more than a quarter century, environmentalists jointly from Goa, Maharashtra and 
Karnataka have been striving hard to get Tillari forest region, the legal protection.

Rampant deforestation due to plantation of commercial species like rubber, pineapple, medicinal herbs and other horticultural crops and illegal hunting of animals posed serious threat to the Tillari area.

After declaring the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary of Goa in 1999 and the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary of Karnataka in 2011, there was very need to give legal tag of protection to the Tillari region.

In 2016, the Forest Department of Maharashtra proposed to declare 57 sq. kms areas as a Wildlife Sanctuary across 25 villages of Dodamarg but it did not materialize.

On June 22, 2020 after consulting local communities, Government of Maharashtra issued the notification under Section 36-A of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972  to declare 2953.377 hectares of forested area as Tillari Conservation Reserve. The Reserve Forest from Bombarde, Ghatiwade, Kendre Khurd, Kendre Budruk, Patiye, Shirange, Konal, Ainode, Medhe and Hewale villages of Dodamarg range of Sawantwadi division have been included in this reserve.

This decision of Government of Maharashtra declaring Tillari forested region as the Conservation Reserve will help in facilitating efforts of Goa and Karnataka's forests to protect the tigers, leopard, elephant and other elements of biodiversity and their habitat.
By strategically planning we can conserve and protect this biodiversity rich region.

Intensive study from 2014 to 2019 by wild lifers have identified 7 individual tigers in Tillari region. A tigress with two cubs camera trapped in Tillari Valley have pointed out the uniqueness of this region. A continued study have revealed that tigers breeding in Tillari Valley, Mhadai wildlife Sanctuary and Bhimgad wildlife Sanctuary have been migrating towards north crossing Amboli area and reaching upto Radhanagari wildlife Sanctuary and further till the sahyadri tiger reserve. The presence of Tigers in northern western Ghats especially in Sahyadri tiger reserve depends entirely on how well connectivity is maintained and enhanced for dispersing Tigers from Tillari to Radhanagari wildlife Sanctuary. Hence Tillari area is most crucial wildlife corridor.
Tillari irrigation project's 3 dams and many other small irrigation dams in Chandgad tahsil of Kolhapur district has made this area a heaven for wildlife. Elephants roam this area freely because of ample bamboo forest and flowing water in Tillari Valley. Tillari Valley has the excellent population of Sambar deer and wild boars, the favourite prey of Tigers and wild dogs.

The plateau region of Tillari area is dominated by herbaceous flora while valleys have riparian vegetation and huge grasslands, that supports herds of World’s largest bovine Indian Gaur.

Many rare and Western Ghats endemic species are found here.
Hubardia ----- grass found in the streams of Tillari is locally endemic  that is found nowhere in the world.  The rare and elusive bird Malabar trogon is a great treat to birdwatchers. Great Hornbills flying across the valley is a panoramic view. Shri Lanka frogmouth, Gray headed Bulbul, Ruby throated Bulbul are some of the beauties found here. Occurrence of Hump nosed pit viper, King cobra and flying lizard Draco in this area is the  northernmost record for these species in Western Ghats.  Amphibians like Malabar Gliding Frog, Amboli cicilian are quite common here. Remote areas of Tillari Valley are the only known record sites for Slender Loris in Maharashtra. Endemic Stripe necked mongoose, Malayan Night Heron, butterflies like Malabar tree nymph, Malabar Banded peacock, Clipper, Banded Royal, Southern birdwing are some of the beauties that thrives here.

The black panther has also been recorded in camera trap and sighting of Brown palm civet is frequent.
Most dynamic inhabitants of Tillari river are smooth coated otter and small clawed otter.  Variety of fishes, crabs and amphibians are found in this river. Indian crocodile is well flourishing in Tillari River.

Uniqueness of this area can be clearly underlined by the fact that most of these creatures are rarely seen in northern Western Ghats. The first known record of the Myristica swamp forests in Hewale village indicates pre-historic importance.  Hewale's Sateri- Kelbai is nestled in the forest of Saraca indica.

Though, only 29.53 sq kms area has been included in Tillari Conservation Reserve, we have to initiate efforts by involving local communities to include more and more forest areas from Sindhudurg and Kolhapur districts as well.

Tillari Conserve Reserve has the potentiality of great eco-tourism activities that needs to be planned by adhering the environmental norms. 

Securing Tillari is a vital step in protecting this wildlife corridor to ensure safe and sound presence of Tigers and other wild animals in the Sahyadri.

--