In 6 months
Longest-ever recorded movement of a collared tiger in India, says forest department; he could be in search of territory
NITIN KAKODKAR, principal chief conservator of forest, Maharashtra
during the night,” said Jerryl Banait, a wildlife conservationist who has been closely monitoring tigers in this region. “Male tigers need 60-80 sq. km to form their territory.”
Two tigers — T1C1 and T1C3
WHAT ABOUT THE TIGER’S SIBLINGS
HT had reported earlier this year that two tigers (T1C1 and T1C3, both born to tigress around December 2016 in Tipeshwar) were radio-collared by researchers Bilal Habib and Parag Nigam from WII on February 25 and 27. The third cub, T1C2, which was not radio-collared, has also covered considerable distance and was reported from Painganga sanctuary in Yavatmal.
Collars work by sending signals to a satellite to obtain information on the that the battery of the collar has been drained by 80% and we may lose the communication with the animal shortly, said the forest department. Considering these technical details, the decision about the future of this animal (whether to be captured and relocated) needs to be taken soon.
— b o t h b o r n t o t i g r e s s T1 a r o und Dece mber 2 0 1 6 in Tipeshwar, were radio-collared by researchers Bilal Habib and Parag Nigam from WII on February 25 and 27. “T1C1 moved from Pandharkawda division in movement and dispersal pattern of animals.
Between March and June, both tigers began exploring the Pandharkawda division and bordering Telangana area.
June and entered Adilabad through Ambadi ghat and Kinwat forests. He spent considerable time across interstate forests of Adilabad and Nanded divisions during August and September,” said Govekar. Subsequently, the tiger entered Painganga sanctuary for a brief period, and in October T1C1 went to Isapur sanctuary. In the last week of October, 2019, he entered Hingoli district of Marathwada area.
“It’s worth noting that the tiger, while crossing hundreds
In mid-july, 2019, T1C3 migrated to Telangana and went close to Adilabad, but instead of settling down there, he returned back to Tipeshwar within about ten days. He has settled now in Tipeshwar.
(Source: Report by Wildlife Institute of
India: Bilal Habib, Parag Nigam, Pallavi Ghaskadbi, Zehidul
Hussain)
The exact reason for this fast paced movement by the animal is still unclear. We are constantly monitoring this and once the animal sets up his territory, we will have more answers.
of villages, agricultural fields and habitations, did not enter into any conflict with humans except isolated instances of cattle kills that he made for survival and unavoidable incidence of human attack when the villagers approached close to the tiger in Hingoli,” said Ravikiran Govekar, field director, Pench Tiger Reserve.
T1C1 entered Akola division in early November, Dyanganga during the first week of December, and is now in areas around Ajanta in Aurangabad .