Forest department officials are making extensive efforts to retain the four tigers that have recently migrated from the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Jharkhand by relocating at least two tigresses and one tiger from another reserve. Preparations are underway to ensure a sufficient prey base for the big cats.
PTR Director Kumar Ashutosh stated that all necessary preparations are complete, with only the approval of the National Zoo Authority pending for relocating 350 animals to the Soft Release Centres (SRC) established in the reserve.
Forest officials have set up four SRCs to provide adequate food for the tigers, which will aid in their breeding. These centres house animals in pre-release cages near the release sites. Each SRC, located at Baresadh, Lukaiya, Mundu, and Dhardharia, spans 10 hectares, creating a conducive environment for breeding cheetals, which the tigers will prey upon.
“We have received permission from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to transfer cheetals, sambhars, and deer and are awaiting similar approval from the National Zoo Authority. Once these animals are moved to the SRCs, we will relocate the tigresses and tiger with NTCA’s consent,” the Director explained.
Around 200 cheetals from Betla National Park will be moved to three different SRCs, while an additional 300 cheetals and sambhars will be brought from Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park (Birsa Zoo) in Ranchi for the remaining SRCs. Currently, PTR has four SRCs, with two more in development, Ashutosh added.
Additionally, several check dams have been constructed to ensure drinking water for the animals. "Two portable water sprinklers, each covering a radius of 50 metres, have been installed to maintain greenery in PTR’s grasslands," said Ashutosh.
The number of solar water pumps has been increased from 16 to 37 to maintain water levels in the reserve's water bodies year-round, he noted.
According to a report on the status of tigers in India released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, there were no tigers in PTR. The reserve, spanning approximately 1,230 square kilometres, was designated as a tiger reserve in 1973 and once had a substantial tiger population, which decreased to three in the 2014 census and zero in the most recent report.
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