Reconstruction of the population and conservation of genetic diversity among endangered species is the goal of many conservation projects, and one such effort was the recent release of two tigers at the Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR) in Uttarakhand, India. The move relocated the animals from the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) and was a collaborative effort between the Uttarakhand Forest Department, the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India.
By relocating these two tigers, the project is expected to provide a much-needed increase in the number of tigers breeding in the western part of the RTR, potentially bringing the number of resident tigers to more than 30. Photographic evidence of tigers has so far indicated there were only two in this part of the reserve.
Two finalists were selected for their reproductive potential, in the hope that three more would join their new digging later. They have been moved to higher density (hoofed mammals) areas, which should be enough to support a growing group of hungry tigers. This was demonstrated in scientific models for habitat restoration, strong supervision and patrolling, corridor management (for habitat connection) efforts, and continued and considered selection for breeding to increase their numbers.
“[This] much-awaited translocation mission has taken the form of a male and a female tiger in the western Rajaji Tiger Reserve,” said J. S. Suhag, chief wildlife warden of Uttarakhand. “The support and efforts of the WWF, WII, and NTCA have made this possible. This will not only enrich the [tiger’s] population but also play a role in attracting wildlife tourists.”
In the video below, neither of the two written tigers needs any encouragement because it makes a quick exit through some trees. A WWF representative told IFLScience that the elephant heard an angry trumpet shortly after it was released from a captive animal, not the tiger’s first food.
With the arrival of the tiger, a new monitoring protocol should be introduced, each animal will already be fitted with a radio caller. It is hoped that this information will provide new insights into this person’s range, regional dynamics, ecology, and predatory behavior that may inform more effective conservation efforts in the future.
“With the cooperation of the Uttarakhand Forest Department, the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Tiger Conservation Authority, and the decisive action taken by the government, this landmark tiger recovery in the western part of Raja West has been made possible,” said Dr. Dipankar Ghose, director of WWF India. “WWF India will continue to work with stakeholders in and around Rajaji to restore connectivity to this part of the regional landscape and protect the survival of wild tigers, their prey, and habitat.”
