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Surplus Ranthambore tigers to be shifted to other habitats

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The forest department of Rajasthan is facing an uphill task to manage the growing population of tigers in the Ranthambore Tiger reserve due to intra-specific fights resulting in grievous injuries and even death of the stripped cats.

There has been reports of five tiger deaths due to intra-specific fight in Ranthambore. To avoid this situation taking a serious turn, the state forest department is contemplating to shift a few tigers from their original home to other suitable tiger habitat areas of the state.In recent past there has been reports of five tiger deaths due to intra-specific fight in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.

Wildlife experts are of the firm view that to manage a situation where the population of the feline increases beyond the carrying capacity of the area, the only solution is to shift the extra tigers to other suitable areas enabling them to lead a normal healthy life.As per census carried out in Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, there are around 60 tigers which also includes cubs.

Going by the core area of the tiger reserve which is spread over 1,113 square km and the buffer zone comprising 298 square km, the space is certainly not adequate for the current population, feel experts who are of the view that the current population can only be sustain the existing tiger population in the same space if the prey base density becomes high.

“Since such a situation does not exists, the solution is to shift the additional tiger, else apart intra-specific fights, the tigers may also stray out of the park in search of new homing ranges where a direct conflict with humans cannot be ruled out,” pointed out an expert who added that under those circumstances there could also be possibilities of tigers being poached.

As per the management plans being drawn by the state forest department, the surplus tigers would be shifted to Sariska tiger Reserve and also to Alwar and Kota reserve forest areas, said an official of the state forest department.[/font]


http://www.indileak.com/surplus-ranthamb...-habitats/
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