9 Ranthambhore tigers in short list, 3 to be shifted to Mukundra

Wildlife department has shortlisted nine tigers of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR) in Rajasthan of which three will be finally relocated to the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) of Hadauti region by the year end, chief wildlife warden of Rajasthan, GV Reddy said this on the last day of his three-day visit to Kota to supervise the preparations of the wildlife department for relocating the striped cats.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) on September 1 granted approval for the relocation of tigers.

GV Reddy said, “Although only three tigers will be relocated from RTR to MHTR, the wildlife department has so far identified nine tigers, including five males and four females, out of which only one male and two females will be translocated this year.”

There is a procedure for shortlisting the tigers based on sex, age and dispersion. Reddy said only those tigers have been shortlisted that have left their territory in RTR for the periphery or have moved towards the nearby villages. “Since it takes around three hours to travel from RTR to MHTR via road, this route will be taken for the relocation. The consciousness of the tigers need to be restored after a certain period of time after tranquilising and so veterinary doctors will be consulted during the travel,” said Reddy.

A total of 18 teams of wildlife department would remain deployed for the safety and security of the relocated tigers at MHTR. An enclosure for the tigers will be created across two hectares of area in Seljar region of MHTR where they will be kept before release in the wild.

About the relocation of the villagers and villages from the MHTR, he said that relocation of the villagers will be voluntary.

Reddy met the wildlife lovers, who raised their issues with him.