Could be because of overcrowding or just for the heck of sheer adventure, a tiger has entered Haryana after 110 years. The animal was last seen here in 1913. It’s the same tiger which crossed over from Eastern side (Cheela range) of Rajaji Tiger Reserve to Western side (Motichur Range) before moving on to Simbalbara in Himachal Pradesh and now sauntering in Haryana amid sugarcane fields and sparse forest. It was captured on camera trap in Kalesar areas twice on April 18-19.
The tiger has already travelled over 120 km across in search of new territory by passing through several human habitations during last three months. Kalesar is connected to the Rajaji National Park through a forest landscape. Elephants from Rajaji have been using the Kalesar- Simbalbara corridor to roam in the Shivalik range. They have been seen in both Kalesar and Simbalbara parks.
MAY NOT STAY TOO LONG
Spread across just 43 Sq Kms Kalesar national park is too small for a tiger while the surrounding Kalesar sanctuary, spread over 110 Sq Kms, is frequented by people. That’s why there is little possibility of the tiger staying here for a long time.
Simbalbara National Park is no different. Tiger pugmarks and scats were observed in two instances in 2006 but the elusive Big Cat was never seen or even caught on trap cameras. In November 2022, a herd of elephants was spotted in Simbalbara – that is believed to have strayed from Rajaji Park. Simbalbara has of late been renamed Sher Jung National Park.
IN EXPLORATORY MOOD
The tiger’s entry in such sparse forested areas, has spawned the fear of man-animal conflict. Field Director Rajaji Tiger Reserve, Dr Saket Badola, allays such apprehensions. “The tiger seems to be in exploratory mood. It is unlikely to harm human habitations till it finds enough prey within the forest itself”, he told Indian Masterminds.
There is a likelihood that the tiger might return to its original habitat – Rajaji Tiger Reserve unless it gets acclimatised to its new habitat where it finds enough prey base, said Dr Badola. It is believed that the tiger crossed the Yamuna river during winters when water flow is minimal.
Adventures of the tiger has raised hopes of the forest ministry to set up a multi-state tiger reserve comprising Rajaji (Uttarakhand), Kalesar (Haryana) and Simbalbara in (Himachal Pradesh). The three parks had well-connected tiger corridors once. But, human encroachment on their territories has created three forested islands barely connected to each other.
The tiger’s forays in the unchartered territories have emphasized the need to restore the habitat of the 810-km Terai Arc landscape, comprising Kalesar and Simbalbara parks, between the Yamuna river in the west and the Bhagmati river in the east, dominated by leopards.
