Male Tiger from Sariska Makes 125km Journey to Rewari Forest for the Second Time This Year
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/21st August 2024
A three-year-old male tiger, identified as ST-2302, has made headlines once again as it embarks on a remarkable journey from the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan to the Jhabua forest in Rewari, covering a distance of approximately 125 kilometers. This marks the second time this year that the tiger has ventured beyond its usual habitat.
The forest department initiated a search operation on Saturday evening after discovering the tiger’s pugmarks in the Aravali forest region. It is believed that the tiger left Sariska last week and traveled along the Sahibi river, which provides a water source and an abundant prey base. On its route to Rewari, ST-2302 was spotted in the Khairthal-Tijara district near the Rajasthan border, where it reportedly attacked a local farmer.
Divisional Forest Officer Deepak Patil confirmed that the pugmarks found on Saturday matched those of ST-2302, verifying the tiger’s identity. The discovery led to the deployment of five to seven forest teams in the 800-acre Jhabua forest to monitor the situation and prevent the tiger from straying into nearby villages, where it might cause alarm. Officials acknowledged the difficulty of tranquilizing and capturing the tiger due to the dense forest terrain and the animal’s elusive nature.
In January of this year, ST-2302 had similarly ventured into the Rewari forest and stayed there for four days before returning to Sariska. During that earlier journey, the tiger followed a route through Bhiwadi on the Haryana-Rajasthan border and was spotted in Sukh Kheda village, where it attacked a farmer. It then continued through the Aravali terrain of Rewari, hiding in mustard fields before eventually making its way back.
The recurring appearance of ST-2302 in Rewari highlights the challenges faced in managing wildlife corridors and the need for effective conservation strategies. Forest officials are coordinating with their counterparts in Rajasthan to track the tiger and facilitate its return to Sariska. However, wildlife experts suggest that the tiger may naturally find its way back to its original habitat.
Sumit Dookia, a wildlife biologist, speculated that ST-2302’s movements could be driven by the tiger’s search for a new territory. He explained that Sariska’s population of over 40 tigers might include dominant males pushing out weaker individuals. This behavior indicates that the tiger is likely seeking a separate habitat, and the active wildlife corridor between Sariska and the Haryana Aravalis is crucial for its conservation.
Dookia also noted that the Jhabua forest, with its limited area of 800 acres, may not be sufficient for an adult tiger, which typically requires a larger territory of 50 to 250 square kilometers depending on the prey availability. The absence of a female tiger in the region might also influence ST-2302’s potential return to Sariska.
As the search continues and conservation efforts are strengthened, the story of ST-2302 underscores the dynamic interactions between wildlife and their habitats, emphasizing the importance of protecting and managing wildlife corridors to ensure the safety and stability of both animal populations and human communities.
