A male tiger born in the Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal has made an extraordinary journey across Maharashtra, traveling 500 kilometers to reach Solapur district. This remarkable movement has raised concerns, leading the Pune forest department to propose the relocation of the tiger to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, situated 300 kilometers away. The forest divisions in Dharashiv and Solapur are closely monitoring the tiger’s movements to ensure safety and prevent any incidents.
Tiger’s Journey and Discovery
In December 2024, an increase in cattle attacks prompted farmers in Solapur district to alert forest officials. Camera traps installed in the area revealed the presence of a male tiger, which had been born in the Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in 2022. This tiger, believed to have disappeared from the sanctuary in May 2023, was first sighted in Yedshi Ramaling Wildlife Sanctuary in Dharashiv district before entering Barshi tehsil in Solapur. This marked the first tiger sighting in Solapur in the last 50 years.
Kushagra Pathak, the Deputy Conservator of Forests for Solapur Forest Division, remarked that although it is not uncommon for a tiger to cover long distances, the tiger’s journey through non-established corridors in Solapur and Dharashiv was unusual.
Efforts to Monitor and Manage the Tiger
The forest department has taken several measures to ensure the safety of both the tiger and the local population. Local residents have been sensitized to avoid venturing alone in fields or remote areas. Forest staff is being trained by the RESQ Charitable Trust to handle potential situations, including tranquilizing the tiger if necessary. Eight camera traps have been set up to track the tiger’s movements, which continue to change as it moves between Solapur and Dharashiv. The tiger was last spotted in Solapur.
Relocation Proposal and Expert Opinions
Aditya Paranjape, honorary wildlife warden of Pune Forest Circle, suggested that the tiger likely left Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in search of new territory, as the sanctuary is relatively small. Since the tiger was not radio-collared, tracing its exact route has been difficult. Paranjape proposed that the tiger should be allowed to explore further, possibly by radio-collaring it to track its movements.
However, to avoid conflicts with humans, poaching, or other risks, the forest department has planned to relocate the tiger to the nearby Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. Relocating it to Tipeshwar or other reserves in Vidarbha is not an option due to territorial disputes among the tigers in those areas.
Relocation Process and Timeline
NR Praveen, Chief Conservator of Forests for Pune Forest Department, confirmed that the proposal to relocate the tiger to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve had been submitted to the forest headquarters in Nagpur. The proposal is under consideration, and once approved, the tiger will be tranquilized, captured, and relocated after a health check-up. This relocation would be the first such transfer from Vidarbha to Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.
Reasons Behind the Tiger’s Movement
Experts believe that the tiger’s journey may have been driven by a search for food or a mate. The central Indian landscape, including Vidarbha, already has a dense tiger population, leaving little room for new tigers. This has likely pushed the young male tiger to seek new territory. The successful movement of the tiger through different regions highlights the suitability of the landscape for tiger movement.
Previous Tiger Movements
This tiger’s movement follows a similar pattern seen in 2021, when a young male tiger, T3C1, moved from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary to Gautala Autramghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Aurangabad, traveling through various districts in Maharashtra.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What prompted the farmers in Solapur district to alert the forest department in December 2024?
- A) Increase in tiger sightings
- B) Increase in cattle attacks
- C) Forest fires
- D) Heavy rainfall
- Answer: B) Increase in cattle attacks
- Where was the male tiger first sighted after disappearing from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in May 2023?
- A) Barshi tehsil
- B) Yedshi Ramaling Wildlife Sanctuary
- C) Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
- D) Nanded district
- Answer: B) Yedshi Ramaling Wildlife Sanctuary
- What is the proposed relocation destination for the male tiger?
- A) Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary
- B) Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
- C) Gautala Autramghat Wildlife Sanctuary
- D) Painganga Wildlife Sanctuary
- Answer: B) Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
- What measure is being taken to track the tiger’s movements?
- A) Radio-collaring the tiger
- B) Using drones to monitor its location
- C) Setting up camera traps
- D) Installing GPS trackers
- Answer: C) Setting up camera traps
- Why is it not possible to relocate the tiger back to Tipeshwar or other reserves in Vidarbha?
- A) The tiger is too old to travel
- B) There are already territorial fights in those areas
- C) The tiger is injured
- D) The tiger prefers other regions
- Answer: B) There are already territorial fights in those areas