‘Corridors, not translocation, key to decongesting India’s tiger reserves’

For regions facing tiger-human conflict, translocation of tigers seems to be the best way out; it appeases locals and repopulates reserves with less tiger density. However, experts recommend taking care of corridors, and developing new habitats, so tigers can make their own way to these areas
Successful implementation of Project Tiger has resulted in an increase in population of tigers.But in stark contrast to the sustained uptick, the habitats, both within and outside (buffer) protected areas, have remained constant. While a few tiger reserves are reeling under high density of tiger population with increased man-animal conflict, a few others still have vast swathes of forest to sustain the growing population. This dichotomy between high density of tigers and some empty spacious reserves, while posing a new conservational challenge, has whipped up intense debate on decongestion of reserves.
Even as foresters and conservationists have locked horns over the subject, successive governments in some states are experimenting with translocating big cats from high density reserves to relatively new forest areas or dying reserves that lack resources and adequate prey base. Foresters claim the translocation of tigers will help decongest national parks besides ensuring much-needed genetic diversity. However, conservationists argue it could lead to a lot of disasters. Yet, conservation circles are abuzz with talks of decongesting tiger reserves given the rate at which these cats are multiplying.
Acclaimed conservationist Dr Ullas Karanth said, “It is a problem only in some over managed and so called famous reserves. ” Dr Karanth adds, “The high density of tigers is never a problem in vast areas of tiger habitat. ”
However, Braj Kishore Singh, ex-chief wildlife warden and principal chief conservator of forests (HoFF) Karnataka, says congestion need not lead to translocation. “If you are successful in preventing degradation of forests in buffer areas, one need not worry about any other methodologies,” says Singh, clarifying translocation shall only be the last resort.
While the National Tiger Conservatory Authority (NTCA) had to shelve the much-hyped interstate relocation of tigers between Madhya Pradesh and Odisha after a disastrous episode, many intrastate translocations in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have spurred interest among other states.
“Often low tiger density areas have a scarcity of prey population. The reduction in prey population in those areas is largely due to unprecedented hunting for meat. We must ensure that even prey is reintroduced, and hunting is stopped, if we want the translocated tigers to survive,” Singh asserted.
Pointing out that we do not seem to learn from our mistakes, Dr Karanth argued that even if there is a surplus population occasionally, they would all be either sub-adults trying to disperse or old animals evicted from their territories.
“If the objective was to reduce tiger density, then the urgent need is to stop the unscientific practice of habitat manipulation that results in high density of prey. These manipulative practices include clearing extra-wide view lines, the famed ‘exotic weed removal’ schemes, creation of meadows, creating excessive water holes -natural as well as artificial, and replenishment in the dry season. Over a period, prey density declines naturally, and tiger density will also adjust downward. Translocating tigers, ironically, along with ‘habitat manipulation’ will only aggravate the problem, not solve it,” he says. While the translocation exercises result in unimaginable expenses, especially when funds are being curtailed for conservation activities, experts pin their hopes on setting up links between two distant reserves by establishing corridors.
“Identifying functional wildlife corridors, apart from the structural ones which the NTCA has already identified (over 32) is the main strategy for decongesting tiger reserves,” Singh explained.
He cautioned that reserves with more than 10 tigers per 100 sq km will see tigers spreading themselves into the buffer areas, triggering increased man-animal conflict. “The only solution in such cases would be stringent regulation of human activities and keeping infrastructure development out of the buffer,” he said.
Sanjay Pathak, former field director of UP’s Dudhwa tiger reserve, said, “We identified at least five functional corridors to let tigers disperse and find their territory. Some of these corridors are internal, which connect Dudhwa and Pilibhit reserves, and the rest connect the tiger reserves in UP with the forests in Nepal. Lagga Bagga-Bahai-Tatarganj is one such internal corridor. Restoring the natural wildlife corridors is another priority. The corridors are now fragmented and even encroached. As a part of the management of the reserve, such spots are also identified where the density of tigers may be lesser. Stray tigers, which were rescued in the near past, were released in these regions to reduce conflicts with other tigers. ”
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(With inputs from Neha Shukla)