Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) management has identified two tigresses and started monitoring their movement as both will be released in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) this month under tiger relocation project. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recently gave green signal to relocate two tigresses from TATR under the tigers relocation project of eight tigers of State Forest Department. Under this project, eight tigers, including three male and five female tigers, will be relocated to STR from TATR and Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR).

 

“We have started monitoring two big cats in our jurisdiction which are likely to be shifted to STR this month. Currently, we are monitoring their behaviour to ascertain that both tigresses are fit for relocation,” Dr Prabhunath Shukla, Field Director, TATR told The Hitavada. “As we are monitoring the tigers and the process will take some more time as constant rain in Chandrapur is obstructing the process but we are expecting that by month end, we will initiate the process,” said Dr Shukla. As per the Tiger Census 2022 data by NTCA, no tiger is residing in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. To increase the tiger count in STR, the Forest Department initiated this tiger relocation project from Vidarbha to STR. “Relocation of a tiger is a long process. First we have to monitor its movement before tranquillisation, then we will capture it and monitor its health, and relocate it to new forest.

 

There too, we have to constantly monitor its behaviour and see whether it has acclimatised in the place or not,” explained Dr Shukla. Therefore, shifting eight tigers from Vidarbha to STR is going to be long and sensitive process for us which requires proper observation and patience, said the Field Director. As per the information, Forest Department planned this project way back in 2022-23 itself as it released 50 Chitals in STR to increase the prey base of these big cats in near future. The Forest Department kept these Chitals inside a 10 acre fenced area in STR and the population of the Chitals has also increased now. Sahyadri forest was notified as Tiger Reserve in 2010 and this forest has a history of natural migration of tigers. However, tigers never settled in this forest and many tigers migrated from STR to other Tiger Reserves earlier as well.