Published on: May 8, 2024
MAHARASHTRA TO TRANSLOCATE TIGERS TO SAHYADRI RESERVE
MAHARASHTRA TO TRANSLOCATE TIGERS TO SAHYADRI RESERVE
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.