In a significant boost to wildlife conservation efforts, the Uttarakhand Forest Department is set to relocate five more tigers—three tigresses and two males—from Corbett Tiger Reserve to Rajaji Tiger Reserve. A proposal for this second phase of the tiger translocation initiative has been submitted to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), and the relocation will commence as soon as approval is received.
This move follows the successful completion of Phase-1 of the tiger restoration plan in 2022, during which five tigers were relocated from Corbett to Rajaji. The final tiger from that phase was recently translocated, completing the first round of efforts. Forest officials report that the relocated tigers have adapted well to Rajaji’s environment, thanks to its expansive forest cover, sufficient prey base, and favorable habitat conditions.
With Corbett Tiger Reserve surpassing its carrying capacity, the presence of an excessive number of tigers has begun to trigger intra-species conflict and push some animals toward human settlements in search of territory and prey. Wildlife expert Mr. Ganesh Rawat explains that in such cases, relocation becomes a scientifically viable and sensitive conservation strategy.
The upcoming translocation under Phase-2 aims not only to restore the dwindling tiger population in Rajaji, particularly in its eastern range, but also to mitigate human-tiger conflict in Corbett. Historically, Rajaji was home to a thriving tiger population, which has drastically declined in recent decades. The arrival of new tigers is expected to rejuvenate the reserve’s ecosystem, improve biodiversity, and create new opportunities for eco-tourism and wildlife research.
This ambitious project is more than a logistical operation; it represents a balanced and visionary step toward co-existence between humans and wildlife. As the big cats journey from Corbett to Rajaji, they carry the promise of ecological restoration and sustainable conservation.
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