Notes

To improve gene pool, Odisha's Similipal reserve brings tigress from Maharashtra

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Last Updated29/10/2024

After a nearly 36-hour journey covering over 1,000 km, a tigress from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra on Sunday reached its new home – the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha.

In a significant conservation effort, a tigress from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has been successfully translocated to the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha after a journey of nearly 36 hours covering over 1,000 km. This initiative aims to enhance the genetic diversity of tigers in Similipal, which is the only wild habitat for melanistic (black) Royal Bengal tigers in India.

Purpose of Translocation: The project seeks to improve the gene pool of tigers in Similipal, where genetic studies indicate that the local black tiger population may be inbred due to its small founding population. A recent tiger estimation revealed that 13 out of the 24 adult tigers in Similipal are pseudo-melanistic, highlighting the need for genetic diversity.
Process: The 2.5-year-old tigress was captured on Saturday morning and transported in a specialized vehicle to her new habitat. Upon arrival, she will be placed in a soft enclosure of about two hectares within the core area of Similipal and monitored for approximately seven days before her potential release into the wild.
Future Plans: Following this translocation, another tigress from a different reserve in Maharashtra is scheduled to be introduced into Similipal, further contributing to the genetic diversity efforts.
Background: This translocation follows a previous unsuccessful attempt in 2018 to reintroduce tigers to the Satkosia Tiger Reserve, where one tiger died due to poaching traps, and another was returned after causing human-wildlife conflict.

The translocation of the tigress is crucial for the preservation of tigers in Similipal, ensuring the survival of this unique population. The initiative is part of a broader strategy endorsed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to maintain and enhance tiger populations across India while addressing genetic health.
As efforts continue to monitor and manage tiger populations in the region, this project serves as a vital step toward conservation and restoring ecological balance in the Similipal Tiger Reserve.