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from times of India.



Problem of plenty hits Tadoba tiger conservation work




Chandrapur: High density and skewed male-female ratio is taking a toll on tigers in Brahmapuri forest division. Death of a collared sub-adult tiger in a territorial fight in South Brahmapuri range on Wednesday has rung warning bells among forest officers involved in their conservation. While the proposed tiger translocation projects remain in limbo, officers fear more such deaths due to the overcrowding in the area.

The number of tigers has spiked in the Tadoba landscape in recent years. While Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) itself is the abode of at least 88 tigers, the territorial forest outside TATR too supports a large population of 58 tigers. Brahmapuri forest division in Chandrapur circle has proved to be the best breeding ground for tigers. Forest in Brahmapuri alone have around 32 adult tigers. Apart from this, there is a bunch of sub-adult tigers, which have just separated or are poised to separate from their mother.


There has been a considerable rise in the population of big cats in Brahmapuri forest division. Newly separated tigers face threats from adult tigers already occupying the territory. This results in sub-adult tigers getting killed or being severely injured in territorial fights with bigger adults.

The death of the sub-adult collared tiger in South Brahmapuri range too was the result of similar territorial conflict, said CCF, Chandrapur, Sanjay Thakre. He explained that lack of space forced the young tiger to confront the larger male, and he lost the fight for survival.

The population of tigers had grown in Brahmapuri forest division thanks to good conservation measures. However, this spike has also disturbed the male-female ratio in the division. Ideal male-female ratio for tigers is 1:3, however, in Brahmapuri, the number of male and female tigers is almost equal. Out of 32 tigers in Brahmapuri, 14 are males as against 16 females, while the gender of two is not known. The high density of tigers has also increased pressure on the habitat. This was the reason Chandrapur forest circle sent a proposal seeking translocation of half a dozen sub-adult tigers to tiger reserves and sanctuaries where the numbers are low.

CCF Thakre claimed that the tiger killed in South Brahmapuri was part of those selected to be translocated under the proposed project. However, the translocation proposal is still under consideration of higher ups since last few months. Reply