The country's first inter-state tiger translocation project at Satkosia tiger reserve has been kept in abeyance, the government informed the Parliament on Friday. Last month, the translocation project was struck a major blow as Mahavir, the male tiger moved to Satkosia from Bandhavgarh tiger reserve succumbed to injuries sustained from a snare trap. The National Tiger Conservation Authority had concluded in its field inspection that it was a clear case of poaching.
In addition, Sundari, the tigress brought from Bandhavgarh, had allegedly mauled two persons in Satkosia and this had led to agitations by the forest-dwelling villagers inside Satkosia. Following pressure from locals to move the tigress, the forest department captured her in November and kept her in an enclosure.
In a written response to a question on the translocation project by Biju Janata Dal MP Nagendra Kumar Pradhan, Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Mahesh Sharma said that the translocation was kept in abeyance due to inadequate community engagement and non-compliance of advisories of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
In its field inspection report, NTCA had said that a lot of concerns were flagged repeatedly with regards to the handling of T-2 or Sundari since her release in Satkosia. NTCA has flagged the inadequacies in the enclosure where Sundari has been kept and recommended wilderness enrichment and modifications.
NTCA had asked for adequate preparedness in field, habitat enrichment, community engagement and capacity building. It had said that until the preparedness was achieved, the lives of people and tigress could not be risked and thus the tiger augmentation would have to remain in abeyance.
In February, the Madhya Pradesh government had granted in-principle approval to translocate three pairs of tigers from the state to Satkosia tiger reserve. Only three tigers -- one male and two females -- aged 13 years, who were well past their reproductive age remained in Satkosia's forest. This had prompted Odisha's forest department to take up the revival of tiger population.
The Project
In February, Madhya Pradesh government had granted in-principle approval to translocate three pairs of tigers from the state to Satkosia tiger reserve. Only three tigers — one male and two females — aged 13 years, who were well past their reproductive age, remained in Satkosia’s forest. This had prompted Odisha’s forest department to take up the revival of tiger population
