Will tigers from southern India, especially those from Karnataka, be shifted to Sariska tiger reserve where the beasts have all but disappeared?

A meeting on tiger population, convened by the Union Forests and Environment Ministry and held here last week, reportedly discussed the proposal of relocation of tigers at Sariska in Rajasthan and other tiger reserves where the big cats have become victims of poaching over the years.

The highly debatable proposal, which may rise a storm among tiger experts, is said to be at a very initial stage and the Wildlife Institute of India has been asked to file a report on the matter. The Dehradun-based institute had earlier been asked to suggest ways of reviving tiger population at Sariska.

Official sources said the WII may consider south Indian tiger habitats to make Sariska lively again. Karnataka has the second highest tiger population of around 400, next only to Maharashtra which has over 700.

Experts spoken to by this newspaper, expressed strong views over the Centre’s proposal and called for caution. Tiger activist Valmik Thapar said that before relocating, the authorities should ensure that Sariska was absolutely safe for tigers and was totally undisturbed. “Tigers have to be radio-collared. They are very sensitive animals. I don’t know whether the few better-managed tiger habitats such as Nagarhole, Bandipur, Corbett, Kanha and Madhumalai would really want to send their tigers to Sariska.”

‘Great tragedy’

According to Mr Thapar, one such translocation experiment at Dudhwa ended in disaster. “After relocation, one tiger became a man-eater and the other died as it was attacked by other male tigers.” He added: “Tigers are highly territory-bound and sensitive to new places. I don’t think it is wise to embark on this move. It is a great tragedy that because of mismanagement and bad governance, a day may come when tigers are moved from one habitat to another.”

Ms Sunita Narain, Editor of Down to Earth and chairperson of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Tigers, said she had no opinion on translocation. But she said: “Two issues which should be examined are that we should know why Sariska lost its tigers and, secondly, we should look at ecological issues there.”

A tiger expert from Karnataka observed that there should be a careful feasibility study before any decision was taken on this issue. He said: “Most tiger habitats in southern India differ from the geo-atmospheric areas of Sariska. In the south, tiger habitats are green and are in the Western Ghats belt, whereas Sariska is a dry and scrub forest. Secondly, tiger habitats are prey-based and here too, south Indian habitats are different from Sariska. One also has to look at the aspect of excessive heat there compared to the cooler forests in the south. Other considerations should include availability of waterholes etc.”

Noting that one also had to look at genetic mapping, he said the feasibility study should go into all these aspect as the entire issue needed a careful study. There was once an attempt to relocate lions from Kanha to Gir but it was not pursued, he pointed out.