Font size:
Print
The Eastward Journey of India’s Tigers
Tiger’s long walk east, looking for its own patch with prey, partner
Context: A male tiger that entered a house in Silli, located in Jharkhand’s Ranchi district near the West Bengal border, was rescued early on June 25 and subsequently released into the Palamu Tiger Reserve. Forest officials believe the tiger originally migrated into Jharkhand from Chhattisgarh a few years ago.
Why Are Tigers Moving Eastward?
- Source-Sink Population Dynamics:
-
- Source Populations: Tiger-rich forests like Bandhavgarh (MP), Kanha, and Tadoba (Maharashtra) produce more tigers than they can sustain, leading to dispersal.
- Sink Populations: Degraded forests in Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal lack sufficient prey and breeding females, making survival difficult for dispersing tigers.
- Territorial Behaviour of Male Tigers: Young males must leave their natal areas to establish their own territories. In dense tiger landscapes (e.g., MP & Maharashtra), competition forces them to travel long distances.
- Lack of Tigresses in Eastern Forests: Female tigers rarely disperse far, leading to a gender imbalance in eastern India. Without resident tigresses, males keep wandering in search of mates.
Tiger Corridors and Movement Routes
- Long West-East Corridor: Extends from Maharashtra’s Tadoba through Gadchiroli to Pench-Kanha (MP), then onward to Odisha via Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary (Chhattisgarh).
- Shorter Corridor: Runs from Bandhavgarh (MP) through new tiger reserves like Sanjay Dubri and Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla to Palamu. From Palamu, routes branch southward to Palkot sanctuary and eastward to the Bandgaon forests (West Singhbhum)—a key junction linking:
- Southwards to Simlipal Tiger Reserve (Odisha) and forests near Rourkela.
- Eastwards to West Bengal via:
- The Ayodhya Hills through Chandil (Seraikela Kharsawan, Jharkhand)
- Bandwan (Purulia, West Bengal) via Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary.
- The male tiger from Silli likely used the northern route from Palamu through Chatra forests to reach Ayodhya Hills and Dalma.
Challenges for Dispersing Tigers
- Prey Scarcity: Degraded forests have fewer wild prey, forcing tigers to hunt livestock, leading to human-wildlife conflict.
- Human Threats: Poaching, road accidents, and retaliatory killings (e.g., the 2018 Lalgarh tiger killing in West Bengal).
- Lack of Breeding Opportunities: Female tigers rarely disperse far from their natal areas, leaving eastern forests with no resident tigresses. Without females, male tigers keep wandering, unable to establish territories.
Conservation Efforts and Solutions
- Reintroduction of Tigresses: Zeenat, a tigress from Tadoba (Maharashtra), was relocated to Simlipal (Odisha) to improve genetic diversity. However, she later wandered into West Bengal, showing the challenges of reintroduction.
- Habitat Restoration: Strengthening prey populations through better protection and anti-poaching measures. Improving forest connectivity to facilitate safe tiger movement.
- Community Engagement: Reducing human-tiger conflict through awareness and compensation for livestock losses.
- Success Stories: Some forests (e.g., Panna, Sariska) have seen tiger comebacks due to active rewilding efforts.
What Can Be Done to Ensure Their Survival?
- Reintroduce Tigresses: Translocating females from source populations (e.g., MP, Maharashtra) to sink areas (e.g., Palamu, Simlipal).
- Strengthen Corridors: Securing forest connectivity between reserves to reduce risks during dispersal.
- Boost Prey Populations: Strict anti-poaching measures and habitat restoration to support tiger survival.
- Conflict Mitigation: Early warning systems, rapid response teams, and community-based conservation programs.
