MULUGU, Telangana — Raging wildfires have consumed over 1,200 hectares of forest in Mulugu district since Tuesday, according to local forestry officials. The fires, fueled by unusually dry conditions and high winds, threaten endangered species in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary.
Satellite data from the Forest Survey of India shows fire hotspots spreading across protected reserve areas that house Telangana’s last remaining populations of the Indian pangolin and sloth bear. District Collector Anurag Jayanth has deployed 150 firefighters with aerial support from two state emergency helicopters.
‘This is the worst fire season we’ve seen in a decade,’ said a senior forest department official speaking anonymously. ‘The deciduous forests here haven’t been this vulnerable since the 2019 drought.’
Environmental analysts warn the fires could reverse recent conservation gains. The region saw a 17% increase in tiger sightings last year after anti-poaching initiatives. Climate scientists note the fires coincide with record-high February temperatures across South India.
Authorities expect containment efforts to continue through the weekend as meteorologists predict no immediate rainfall relief.