Tigress Successfully Translocated from Bandhavgarh to Mukundra in Major Conservation Effort
In a significant wildlife management operation, a three-and-a-half-year-old tigress was tranquilized, medically examined, and translocated from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) in Madhya Pradesh to the Mukundra Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan on Thursday. This carefully orchestrated move is part of ongoing conservation and population management efforts aimed at strengthening ecological balance.
Operation Details and Protocol Adherence
The translocation took place in the Jagua beat of the Panpatha Buffer Range under the supervision of senior forest officials, including the deputy director of BTR. A specialized team comprising wildlife health officers and rescue specialists tranquilized the tigress following established safety protocols to ensure minimal stress and risk to the animal.
After sedation, the tigress underwent a comprehensive medical examination. Forest officials confirmed that the animal was in excellent health. As part of standard procedure, biological samples were collected for further analysis, and a radio collar was fitted to enable continuous post-release monitoring of her movements and well-being.
Decision-Making and Monitoring Process
The decision to translocate this particular tigress followed nearly a month of intensive monitoring of select tigresses based on prescribed scientific criteria. A review meeting chaired by the field director of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, and attended by the deputy director, sub-divisional forest officers, range officers, and the rescue team, identified her as the most suitable candidate for relocation.
A senior forest officer emphasized, "The entire process was conducted as per laid-down guidelines for tiger rescue and translocation. All safety standards were strictly followed to ensure the welfare of the animal throughout the operation."
Transport and Conservation Objectives
The tigress was transported in a specially designed cage under constant veterinary supervision to Mukundra Tiger Reserve, where she will be released into her new habitat. This translocation aims to address multiple conservation goals:
- Strengthening the prey-predator balance in the recipient landscape
- Enhancing genetic diversity among tiger populations
- Alleviating spatial pressures in source reserves like Bandhavgarh
Stakeholder Involvement and Long-Term Strategy
The operation witnessed the presence of assistant directors of Panpatha and Tala ranges, range officers of Panpatha Buffer, Tala, and Khitauli, representatives of the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT), and other field staff. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, known for its high tiger density, regularly undertakes scientific management interventions as part of its long-term conservation strategy.
These interventions include systematic monitoring, radio-collaring, and habitat balancing exercises designed to maintain ecological equilibrium. The successful translocation of this tigress represents another step forward in India's ongoing efforts to preserve its majestic tiger population through scientifically informed wildlife management practices.
