Uttarakhand to translocate four tigers to Rajasthan says official

Uttarakhand to translocate four tigers to Rajasthan says official

Subject: Environment

Section: Species in news

Context:

• The Uttarakhand government has approved the relocation of four tigers to Rajasthan, responding to a request from the western state’s authorities. This decision comes amidst similar discussions for tiger translocation to Odisha.

Details:

• The Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) has initiated the selection process for tigers to be relocated to Rajasthan.
• These tigers will be sourced from the buffer zone, not the protected forest area, in alignment with National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines.
• Following a successful tiger relocation project within Uttarakhand—from Corbett Tiger Reserve to Rajaji Tiger Reserve—the states of Rajasthan and Odisha have sought Uttarakhand’s expertise for their tiger translocation efforts. The Odisha request is currently under consideration.
• Alongside the approval for tiger relocation, the Uttarakhand government has also agreed to share its relocation expertise with forest personnel in Rajasthan, highlighting the collaborative approach towards wildlife conservation.

Importance of translocation of tigers:

• This initiative reflects a broader commitment to wildlife conservation, emphasizing the importance of genetic diversity and habitat expansion for tigers. By relocating tigers from areas with higher populations to those with fewer or no tigers, the efforts aim to foster healthier tiger populations and ecosystems.
• The willingness of the Uttarakhand government to assist other states not only in relocating tigers but also in imparting relocation skills signifies a noteworthy instance of interstate collaboration in conservation efforts, potentially setting a precedent for future wildlife management and conservation projects.

Rajaji National Park

• It is nestled between the Shivalik ranges and the Indo-Gangetic plains.
• Broadleaved deciduous forests, riverine vegetation, scrubland, grasslands and pine forests form the range of flora in this park.
• The park is spread over three districts of Uttarakhand: Haridwar, Dehradun and PauriGarhwal.
• The Ganga and Song rivers flow through the park.
• It is at the northwestern limit of distribution for both elephants and tigers in India and has the largest population of elephants in Uttarakhand.
• The Park is also home to the Great Pied Hornbill, Himalayan Pied Kingfisher and the fire tailed sunbird.
• This area is the first staging ground after the migratory birds cross over the Himalayas into the Indian subcontinent.
• In 2015, Rajaji National Park was notified as a tiger reserve by the central government. Benefits of Tiger Reserve – Protected area for Tigers, Tourist attraction, Huge Development fund for the park, Eco-Tourism development.
• Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger.
• It is located in Nainital district and Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand and was named after hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett.
• The Park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative.
• The Park encompasses the Patli Dun valley formed by the Ramganga river.
• Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain and Kosi are the major rivers flowing through the Corbett National Park.
• The national park is a protected area covered by the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature under their Terai Arc Landscape Program.

Source: TheWire