Raj to welcome 4 tigresses from MP in relocation bid

JAIPUR: Rajasthan will receive four tigresses from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh under the interstate relocation programme to enhance the gene pool of big cats.
Three tigresses will be shifted to the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Bundi district and one to the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota. As per a senior forest official, this will mark the first time in Rajasthan's history that tigers will be relocated from other states.
A senior forest official said, "The identification of potential tigresses from the Bhopal Forest Circle for the translocation programme in Rajasthan started in Dec 2024."
According to the 2022 tiger census, Madhya Pradesh is home to the highest number of big cats, totalling 785. In August last year, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approved the translocation of tigers from Madhya Pradesh to Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. "The NTCA's technical committee approved the transfer, after which the process to identify suitable tigers began," said a senior forest official.
While preparations are underway, environmentalists have raised concerns as multiple tigers in the Ratapani Tiger Reserve, located in the Bhopal Circle, are reportedly suffering from fibroma, a medical condition.
Environmental activist Ajay Dubey, who has been closely following the matter, expressed concerns about the health crisis and its potential impact on the relocation programme. "The govt must identify healthy tigresses to ensure the success of the relocation programme.
If tigresses suffering from fibroma are relocated to Rajasthan, it could further endanger their survival and complicate the situation in the receiving states. Relocating vulnerable tigers without addressing their health issues could trigger a negative domino effect, worsening health and safety conditions in other tiger reserves," Dubey said.
In response, a senior forest official in Rajasthan said that the big cats would be brought only after thorough examinations, adhering to all precautionary measures and protocols. "The move will not only help populate newly notified tiger reserves but also prevent inbreeding and establish a fresh gene pool. The tiger habitats in Madhya Pradesh share similarities with those in Rajasthan, so the relocated tigers are unlikely to face difficulties in adjusting to the new habitat," the official added.