TIGER MIGRATION IN MAHARASHTRA: A WILDLIFE MILESTONE

PRELIMS BITS

In an extraordinary display of tiger mobility, a male tiger from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra traveled 500 kilometers to Solapur district. The Pune Forest Department has proposed relocating the tiger to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, situated 300 kilometers away, for its safety and better habitat conditions.

Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary: The Green Oasis

• Location: Yavatmal district, Maharashtra.
• Unique Features:
  • Nourished by rivers like Purna, Krishna, Bhima, and Tapti.
  • Basalt landscape shaped by volcanic activity.
  • Rich biodiversity with herbs, grasses, bamboo forests, and diverse wildlife.
• Key Fauna: Hyenas, chital, blackbucks, sambars, jackals, wild boars, peacocks, blue bulls, bears, and more.

Sahyadri Tiger Reserve: A Conservation Hub

• Established: 2008.
• Location: Sahyadri Ranges, Western Ghats.
• Vegetation: Evergreen, semi-evergreen, and moist deciduous forests.
• Ecological Significance:
  • Crucial tiger habitat supporting conservation in Maharashtra.
  • Shared boundaries with Karnataka and Goa enhance its ecological importance.

Monitoring the Tiger’s Movement

• Tracking Efforts: Forest officials in Dharashiv and Solapur divisions are closely monitoring the tiger’s activity.
• Camera Traps: Confirmed the tiger’s presence in Solapur, following reports of cattle attacks.
• Local Awareness: Residents were informed to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
• Historical Context: The last tiger sighting in Solapur occurred 50 years ago.

Why Did the Tiger Migrate?

• Key Drivers:
  • Search for a mate or unclaimed territory.
  • Central Indian landscapes, especially Vidarbha, have limited vacant tiger habitats.
• Previous Case: A similar migration occurred in 2021 when another tiger traveled from Tipeshwar to Gautala Autramghat Wildlife Sanctuary.

Conservation Implications

• Understanding Wildlife Movement: Highlights the need to study tiger behavior and migration patterns.
• Community Engagement: Essential for coexistence and minimizing conflicts.
• Relocation Goals: Successful relocation to Sahyadri Tiger Reserve could serve as a model for future conservation efforts in Maharashtra.