NEWS – To revive the population of tigers in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) — the lone tiger reserve in the Maharashtra western region — the state’s forest department will soon translocate tigers from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur district
SAHYADRI TIGER RESERVE  

Location and Formation:

• Located in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra.
• Formed in 2010 by merging Chandoli National Park and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary.

Geographical Features:

• Encompasses the region around Koyna Dam, Warna River, and various small rivers originating from the Western Ghats.
• Characterized by undulating terrain with steep escarpments along the western boundary.
• Notable for barren rocky plateaus (“Sadas”), overhanging cliffs, fallen boulders, and dense thorny bushes.

Unique Aspects:

• Abundance of climax and near-climax vegetations with minimal anthropogenic threats.
• Vegetation includes moist evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist, and dry deciduous types.
• Diverse flora with medicinal, fruit-bearing, and commercial hardwood trees.

Wildlife:

• Home to tigers, leopards, lesser cats, wolves, jackals, and wild dogs.
• Rich biodiversity with a variety of fauna and flora species.

IS TRANSLOCATION THE BEST APPROACH FOR TIGER RECOVERY?

• History of Tiger Translocation Projects in India – Successful projects at Sariska and Panna Tiger Reserves contrast with failures like Satkosia Tiger Reserve.
• Perspective
  • Translocation seen as a mixed bag; suggested as a last resort after considering alternatives.
  • Other options include habitat improvement, prey augmentation, and vigilance improvement.
• Importance of Tiger Corridors
  • Strong tiger corridors for project sustainability.
  • Ensuring corridors are free of disturbances crucial for tiger dispersal.
• Lessons from Satkosia Tiger Reserve
  • Poor community engagement led to protests and conflicts post-translocation.
  • Management of community apprehensions and confidence-building essential.
• Challenges and Risks
  • Poorly managed translocations can lead to human-tiger conflicts and fatalities.
  • Meticulous planning, monitoring, and community involvement needed for successful translocation projects.

THE ROLE OF WILDLIFE CORRIDORS IN CONSERVATION

• Connecting Fragmented Habitats
  • Corridors act as pathways connecting fragmented wildlife populations due to human settlements and infrastructure.
  • Crucial for maintaining genetic diversity and preventing local extinctions.
• Long-Term Survival of Tigers
  • Essential for the long-term survival of tiger populations by facilitating gene flow and exchange between different populations.
  • Tigers have large home ranges and require corridors to travel for mating and food.
• Importance in Policy Decisions – Recognized role in conservation policy decisions, leading to mitigation measures like underpasses and wildlife crossings in infrastructure projects.
• Impact of Litigation, Advocacy, and Policy – Efforts in litigation, advocacy, and policymaking have contributed to the protection and incorporation of wildlife corridors in conservation strategies.
• Mapping of Major Tiger Corridors
  • National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India have mapped 32 major tiger corridors across different landscapes in India.
  • Corridor mapping aids in planning conservation efforts and ensuring connectivity between tiger populations.

IMPORTANCE OF THE SAHYADRI-KONKAN CORRIDOR

• Crucial for Tiger Population Survival
  • Connects the Kali Tiger Reserve in Karnataka to forests in Goa and Karnataka, providing connectivity to Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary and conservation reserves.
  • Ensures gene flow and movement of tiger populations, vital for their long-term survival.
• Impact of Human Activities
  • Human settlements and development activities fragment the corridor, posing threats to tiger movement and increasing man-animal conflicts.
  • Strengthening the corridor is essential for facilitating tiger dispersal and reducing habitat fragmentation.
• Role in Translocation Efforts – Authorities planning tiger translocations to Sahyadri highlight the importance of a robust corridor for successful reintroductions and population growth.
• Water Security and Community Importance
  • Not just vital for wildlife, but also crucial for the water security of communities living around these forests in Goa and Karnataka.
  • Emphasizes the need for better coordination among Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka to manage conservation efforts effectively.