Rising numbers, tourism, space crunch turn tigers aggressive
Relocation of big cats from RTR to other reserves, wildlife management suggested
JAIPUR: The behaviour of the tigers at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) in Sawai Madhopur is turning aggressive due to their unexpected increasing population and spurt in tourism, states a report by the reserve administration.
The reserve has witnessed close to a dozen incidents of tiger human conflict in the last two years, in which four people lost their lives.
Recommending measures to strengthen wildlife management and curb tiger-human conflict, Ranthambore administration has submitted a report, which highlights the reason for such incidents and suspected change in the behaviour of big cats.
A copy of the report is with Hindustan Times.
Chief wildlife warden Arindam Tomar said, “We have received the report and it is being looked into.”
The report states that lately, incidents of wildlife-human conflict, especially those of tiger-human conflict, have been increasing at RTR and at the villages on its borders in Sawai Madhopur district of Rajasthan.
Comparing the behaviour of tigers in the last one year, it seems that their behaviour was not as aggressive as it has become now. The presence of humans was there in forests and on bordering areas; the tigers used to move towards forests sighting humans on same path. The tiger-human conflict and deadly attack incidents were negligible, but in last one year there has been a radical change in their behavior. They have become aggressive because of which the incidents of loss of life and property are constantly happening, the report states.
On factual analysis, the report finds that the reason for such radical change is due to increase in number of tigers in the reserve -relatively young tigers (aged between 2-3 years) becoming aggressive on failing to establish territory.
The other factors cited for increasing conflicts include acute shortage of frontline staff; change in behaviour of tigers due to tourism spurt; damaged or low height of security wall; and excessive tourism vehicles, above carrying capacity. The report stresses the need for captive management of tigers.
INCREASE IN TIGER POPULATION
The tiger population at the reserve has increased to 62 -- 27 male, 25 female and 10 cubs. The population of the tigers is more than the carrying capacity of the reserve, because of which the bordering areas witness tiger-human conflict as the young tigers constantly try to establish their territory, the report states. There is suspicion that such incidents might increase after 10 cubs turn young. In such situation, there is an immediate need for relocating 10 tigers from RTR, the report states.
Till date, a tiger, T-24, has been shifted to Udaipur, one to Sariska and another to Mukundra. Earlier, six tigers had been relocated to Sariska. It would be difficult to curb incidents of tiger-human conflict in future, if tigers aren’t relocated, the report states.
YOUNG TIGERS BECOMING AGGRESSIVE
After intensive monitoring of RTR, it is found that young tigers, such as T-108, T-110 and T-97, have not succeeded in establishing their territories. The presence of a tigress is helpful in establishing territory for a tiger but the ratio of male-female is not equal; the number of male tigers is higher. In the absence of tigresses, the male tigers get distracted and move to other areas. Four new tigers (T-112 and T-113, cubs of T-19; and T-115 and T-116, cubs of T-59) of 1.6-2 years are moving with their mother but three of them are suspected to create trouble if they start moving separately, the report states.
The reserve has also three male cubs of one year age; four female cubs and three others of which the sex is not known. Tiger-human conflicts are suspected to increase when the three male cubs grow.
There are four male cubs of less than four months, who with time will look for territory and tigress, and the chances of conflicts are suspected to increase, the report states, adding that it is required to prepare a scheme in consultation with experts.
BEHAVIOUR CHANGE DUE TO TOURISM
In the last one year, the tigers that have attacked humans are mostly those which were moving in the tourism areas. The childhood of these tigers with aggressive behaviour has mostly been in the tourism areas, where they became habitual to seeing humans on vehicles.
But after becoming adult, when they are establishing their territory, the young tigers push them away towards outskirts or border villages, where they face villagers, farmers and labourers. In such situations relatively young tigers become aggressive and execute fatal attacks. The report says there is a need for limiting the number of tourist vehicles, especially full-day and halfday safari.
EXCESSIVE TOURISM VEHICLES
Another major reason for tigers’ aggressive behaviour is excessive number of tourism vehicles. The vehicles are adversely affecting the natural behaviour of tigers because of which they live under stress as they prefer roaming freely.
In August 2019, the Rajasthan forest department had stopped full-day (sunrise to sunset) safari at RTR; normal safari was allowed only at routes 1 to 5; and half day (sunrise to noon) at routes 6 to 10 (peripheral).
Retired IFS officer Sunayan Sharma said tourism and overpopulation are two major reasons for man-animal conflict.
“The tourism pressure is increasing at tiger reserves, which needs to be contained; everyone is earning, be it the government, hotels, or guides. The tiger has become a commercial commodity,” Sharma said. “I am not against tourism but not at the cost of eco-system. The tiger should at least get its minimum space. Why the extra population is not relocated from RTR?”