Madhya Pradesh Forest officials have found a "suitable tiger" in Pench tiger reserve for two translocated tigresses in Panna Tiger Reserve, a top forest official said.
"We have found a suitable tiger in Pench to be translocated to Panna Tiger Reserve," Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) R S Negi told PTI on Saturday.
He said that a team of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Madhya Pradesh Forest officials was camping in Pench to ensure that the translocation is done according to the Centre's guidelines.
The tiger to be shifted to Panna was around two years old and has not formed its territory in Pench reserve yet, a forest official said.
Last month, the Madhya Pradesh Forest officials started the process of picking up a tiger from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and translocate it to Panna, but they dropped this plan at the eleventh hour fearing that it might lead to in-breeding given that a tigress from this place had already been shifted to Panna by road in March.
Another tigress was airlifted and translocated to Panna from famous Kanha Tiger Reserve in March.
Efforts are underway to revive the big cat population in Panna Tiger Reserve, which has become devoid of stripped animal population, except the two translocated felines, officials said.
{{/usCountry}}Efforts are underway to revive the big cat population in Panna Tiger Reserve, which has become devoid of stripped animal population, except the two translocated felines, officials said.
{{/usCountry}}