REINTRODUCTION OF TIGERS IN SARISKA TIGER RESERVE,

RAJASTHAN – Experience & Lessons Learnt

Dr.K.Sankar Wildlife Institute of India

• 881 sq.km

• 274 sq.km as Notified National Park

• 32 villages

• Two state highways pass through the park

• Live stock population 19,132

• 10-12 tigers (2004)

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Rampur

Gurha

Bera

Loge

Nandu

Jahaj

Devri

Uamri

IndokDabli

Raika

Binak

Gurha

Dulawa

Suko la

Ramp ur

Tilwari

Bhagani

Kiraska

Sariska

Barawas

Panidal

Lilund a

Ajabgarh

Kankwari

Roatkala

Haripura

Nangled i

Rekamala

Srionada

Akbarpur

Nathusar

Kalighati

Tanaghazi

Kusalgarh

KalacharaDuharmala

Buldevg arh

Madhavgarh

#Kundalka

Tehla Range

Sariska Range

Talviriksh Range

Akbarpur Range

Location of Villages in Sariska Tiger Reserve

GIS Ce ll, M arch-20 05

N

5 0 5 km

Map 1

Road

Village#

Notified National Park

TIGER STATUS IN SARISKA NOVEMBER - 2004

NEWS PAPERS REPORTED DISAPEARENCE OF TIGERS

TIGER STATUS IN SARISKA NOVEMBER - 2004

• `TIGER TASK FORCE’ WAS CONSTITUTED BY RAJASTHAN GOVERNMENT.

• CBI investigated the cause of tiger disappearance.

• Poaching was the ultimate cause of tiger extinction in Sariska

Background

ASSESSMENT OF STATUS OF

TIGER (Panthera tigris) IN

SARISKA TIGER RESERVE, RAJASTHAN

2005

The MoEF directed the WII to assess the status of tiger in Sariska (January 2005). The Institute confirmed that there were no tigers left in Sariska based on a field survey in February 2005 In the same report WII prepared a blue print for `tiger re-introduction’ in Sariska

Background RECOVERY PLAN FOR TIGERS IN

SARISKA TIGER RESERVE, RAJASTHAN

April, 2008 Post Box # 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun – 248001, Uttarakhand

Subsequently WII prepared a

proposal for Tiger re-introduction

in Sariska in 2006 in consultation

with NTCA & Rajasthan Forest

Department

Based on the prey availability we

assessed that an area of 274 km2

in Sariska (notified National Park)

can support 15 tigers

During the first phase we

proposed to re-introduce 3 tigress

and 2 tigers in Sariska – soft

release

BACKGROUND

• We also proposed supplementation of three tigers (one male and two females) in every two years for a period of six years to establish self- sustaining population with high reproductive fitness in the wild environment and ample genetic diversity.

BACKGROUND

• The simulations (Vortex Software) showed that the probability of tiger survival as 93% (0.9380) (0.0108 SE) and probability of extinction as 0.06% (0.0620) (0.0108 SE).

JUSTIFICATION FOR RE-INTRODUCTION

• Sariska is the western most limit of Royal Bengal tigers in India

• The absence of tigers in Sariska may lead to the imbalance to the eco-system

• The sambar, nilgai and wild pig population went up 2 folds in Sariska (2005-2007)

• Sariska has an excellent prey base

Sariska and Ranthambore Tiger

Reserves are located in the Aravalli

hills and have identical vegetation

types & temperature conditions

Aravalli gene pool of tigers?

JUSTIFICATION FOR RE-INTRODUCTION

Continued…..

Briefing of teams for the immobilization and radio-collaring operation on

the 22nd June, 2008, Ranthambore National Park

Tiger Reintroduction Operation

June, 2008

Search for suitable tiger, Ranthambore National Park

Immobilized tiger being fitted with radio-collar, Ranthambore National

Park

0900 hrs, the immobilized and radio-collared tiger being

transported to helipad in a well ventilated transport container

1105 hrs, tiger container being loaded in the helicopter

12.27 hrs, helicopter arrives in Sariska National Park

12.31 hrs, preparation for unloading the tiger container at the helipad

located 300 meters close to tiger enclosure in Sariska National Park

12.42 hrs, container being shifted to small truck for transportation

to release sites

12.41 hrs, ramps being attached to small truck for transport of

tiger container to the release site

Tiger enclosure at the release site in Karnakawas beat of Sariska

National Park

13.12 hrs, male tiger soon after release inside the enclosure.

Animal calm, fully recovered and alert

Field operation

So far 08 tigers

(5 females & 3 males) were radio-

collared and reintroduced in

Sariska Tiger Reserve during

June 2008 to January 2013.

Tiger Monitoring

• The radio-collared tigers were monitored regularly by a team of researchers and forest officials through ground tracking (VHF) & Satellite data till date.

WHAT WE ACHIEVED?

• FIRST TIME IN THE WORLD TIGER REINTRODUCTION IN A SCIENTIFIC WAY-Species recovery plan

• Successful immobilization, transport, and release of tigers in enclosure

• Successful monitoring of reintroduced tigers inside enclosure

• Successful release of tigers in to the wild

• Successful continuous monitoring of tigers in Sariska for 5 years!

• Panna Tiger Reserve, M.P., replicated the same protocol for tiger reintroduction.

&

……………Lot of learning

Figure 3: Monsoon home range of re-introduced tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve (July 2008 to October 2008)

Figure 4: Winter home range of re-introduced tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve (November 2008 to February 2009)

Path ahead….

• Initial stocking was done (05 tigers) in

Sariska during 2008-12 to establish the

initial population of 5 tigers.

• A supplementation of three tigers (one male

and two females) in every two years for a

period of six years is proposed.

• Supplementation of 2 tigress was done

during January 2013 to maintain genetic and

demographic viability of tiger population

ST-1 MALE

• ST-1 Male tiger died on 12th November 2010.

• Cause of death due to poisoning (Organophosphate pesticide).

Tiger breeding status

• Tiger’s breeding status is being ascertained through scat analysis from LaCONES, CCMB, Hyderabad (Hormone levels)

• Breeding success was achieved by ST-2 (female) in May-June 2012. Two female cubs are born.

ST-2 with a Cub

ST-2 with 2 Cubs

Path ahead… Ten villages from

Core Zone I

(Notified National

Park area) can

support at least

15 adult tigers

(Sankar et al. 2005).

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Rampur

Gurha

Bera

Loge

Nandu

Jahaj

Devri

Uamri

IndokDabli

Raika

Binak

Gurha

Dulawa

Suko la

Ramp ur

Tilwari

Bhagani

Kiraska

Sariska

Barawas

Panidal

Lilund a

Ajabgarh

Kankwari

Roatkala

Haripura

Nangled i

Rekamala

Srionada

Akbarpur

Nathusar

Kalighati

Tanaghazi

Kusalgarh

KalacharaDuharmala

Buldevg arh

Madhavgarh

#Kundalka

Tehla Range

Sariska Range

Talviriksh Range

Akbarpur Range

Location of Villages in Sariska Tiger Reserve

GIS Ce ll, M arch-20 05

N

5 0 5 km

Map 1

Road

Village#

Notified National Park

• Bhagani, Umri and Rotkala villages are already

relocated.

• Kankwari, Sukola & Dabli villages relocation which

are underway will make at least 150 km2 undisturbed

area available to tigers.

• The relocation of remaining 8 villages from the

Core-1 will make 274 km2 undisturbed area available

to tigers.

• This will also pave ways for inviolate atmosphere for

tiger breeding in Sariska.

Path ahead…

Path ahead… • Apart from 10 villages in Core Zone-1,

there are 22 villages located inside the Tiger

Reserve.

• Implementation of eco-development

initiatives in all the villages will reduce the

dependency of forest resources by the local

people.

• Now we have 9 tigers in Sariska.

The New Arrivals in Sariska (January 2013)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY

• RAJASTHAN FOREST DEPARTMENT

• Dr. PARAG NIGAM & Dr.P.K.MALIK

• Mr. QAMAR QURESHI

• WII RESEARCH FELLOWS

• INDIAN AIR FORCE

• WWF, NEW DELHI