While tiger range countries have set an ambitious target to double the numbers of big cats by 2022, some tiger habitats in Maharashtra are dealing with a problem of plenty, causing man-animal conflicts. Hence, officials said they were seeking the relocation of some tigers to other suitable landscapes, in what may be the first such instance in the state.
Sanjay Thakre, chief conservator of forests (territorial), said they were seeking that some tigers be relocated from the Chandrapur territorial circle to other rich landscapes where tiger numbers were low.
"This will be our suggestion. We will have to reduce our (tiger) numbers. Apart from jungles, we also have a significantly populated area," he added, stating that since last week, two women had been killed by tigers. Possible sites for absorbing these tigers could include the Sahyadri tiger project, which had low tiger numbers, and the Painganga wildlife sanctuary.
"Our habitat is suitable for tigers but unlike tiger projects and protected areas where the number of villages is less, the people are dependent on forests for livelihood," said Thakre. He added that despite around 26,000 LPG connections being distributed, people went to forests for firewood and also for collecting mohua forests and tendu leaves.
The 2,700 sqkm region includes 1,700 villages. The dependence of villagers on forests leads to man-animal conflict, with around 155 people being killed by tigers, leopards and wild boars in a decade, among the highest in Maharashtra.
The circle has around 55 adult tigers plus a large number of sub-adults and cubs— the second highest in Maharashtra after the TadobaAndhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). In 2014, a total of 20 deaths were reported due to animal attacks and the figure stood at nine in 2015. "This also creates a risk for tigers," Thakre noted, adding that public pressure had led to a tiger, which had killed around eight people, being shot down by the department at Pobhurna in Chandrapur in 2014.
Few days ago, officials had proposed that a tigress — who with her three cubs was involved in kills at Nagbhid in Brahmapuri division, which has a huge tiger density — be radio collared or translocated.
"There is no option for translocation. Such incidents will keep on happening. Animal movement cannot be restricted neither can that of humans," Thakre noted. Now, a detailed proposal for the Chandrapur circle will be forwarded to the government with detailed mapping and tiger numbers.
Overpopulation also leads to conflict between tigers. A male tiger, who had possibly come from neighboring areas, had been killed by the resident male at Shindewahi earlier this week in a territorial fight.
"This is not a bad idea in principle. But is this a long term solution?" questioned Kedar Gore, director, The Corbett Foundation, warning that "knee-jerk reactions due to man-animal conflict are not going to help".
"A holistic approach to conflicts is needed… otherwise the conflict will shift elsewhere," he pointed out. Gore added that measures like granting immediate interim cash compensation to villagers after cattle kills, reducing dependence of local populations on forests through vocational training, use of biogas and LPG and construction of toilets would help mitigate man-animal conflicts.
Low prey base in areas where tigers were to be translocated could lead to them preying on cattle and cause fresh conflict with people. Hence, conditioning the landscape for tigers was necessary before they were released there.
Tiger translocation has helped enhance tiger population in reserves like Panna and Sariska, where poaching had wiped off these big cats. Cambodia, where tigers are extinct, has sought India's help to re-introduce them.
Maharashtra has six tiger reserves. The tiger census, results for which were released in 2014, have said India has 2,226 tigers, up from 1,706 in 2010. Maharashtra has around 190 such big cats, more than the figure of 169 in 2010.
