6 Ranthambore national park tigers to be relocated to other reserves

Jaipur: The growing population of tigers in Ranthambore national park is causing territorial fights and human-animal conflicts. The forest department is now planning to reduce the number of tigers in Ranthambore by relocating at least six tigers to other tiger reserves in the state including Sariska, Mukundra Hills and Ramgarh Vishdhari. The park authorities have reportedly got a green signal for relocation from the national Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the shifting will begin soon, sources said.

“The proposals from other tiger reserves including Sariska National Park in Alwar, Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve of Kota and Ramgarh Vishdhari Reserve of Bundi have been sought. In the proposals, they have been asked to submit the details of whether these reserves have the capacity and arrangements to accommodate tigers from Ranthambore,” said a senior forest department officer.

He added that shifting two tigers to each of the three reserves is being considered. Each reserve will get a male tiger and a female one.

“We have obtained the NTCA’s nod for the relocation. Further details are being worked out,” said the officer.

There has been many instances of tigers being killed in territorial fights in Ranthambore National Park. In some cases, the tigers strayed into the villages in buffer area and killed humans. Recently, a nine-year-old was killed at his family’s agriculture farm in Sawaimadhopur district in a tiger attack.

“The growing population of tigers can be the reason behind these territorial fights and human-animal conflicts. The relocation is the need of the hour to avoid these incidents,” said the officer.