MP forest department to shift three tigers from Bandhavgarh

As instances of tigers attacking and killing human beings as well as tigers entering in territorial fights with other tigers at Bandhavgarh are on rise, it has been decided to translocate at least three tigers from the reserve.

The state forest department has decided to translocate at least three tigers from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to other less densely populated reserves in the state.

Chief wildlife warden, Narendra Kumar told HT that as instances of tigers attacking and killing human beings as well as tigers entering in territorial fights with other tigers at Bandhavgarh are increasing, it has been decided to translocate at least three tigers from the reserve.

The tigers will be moved to the Sanjay Tiger Reserve and Satpura National Park — reserves that are large in area but with relatively lower tiger densities.

Ten people have been killed by tigers in Bandhavgarh in the last seven years with the most recent being a youth near Khitauli in May this year. Almost half a dozen incidents of infighting among tigers have been also reported from Bandhavgarh in the last one year.

"A large population of tigers in Bandhavgarh within a relatively smaller area has resulted in higher instances of man animal conflict," said Kumar. The translocation would be carried out soon after the monsoon season ends.

Bandhavgarh has about 60 tigers in its 446 sq km core area — one of the highest densities of tigers among all other reserves in India — while the Satpura National Park has about 43 tigers in its 1,400 sq km core area and Sanjay Tiger Reserve has about five tigers in its 1,471 sq km area.