Why in news?
A third tigress was recently released into the wild at the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) in Maharashtra. Wildlife authorities hope that introducing more females will stabilise and grow the area’s small tiger population.
Background
Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, notified in 2007, is located in the rugged Sahyadri range of the Western Ghats. It is the first tiger reserve in Western Maharashtra and the fourth in the state. The reserve combines the Koyana Wildlife Sanctuary and Chandoli National Park, with the Shivsagar reservoir of the Koyana River and the Vasant Sagar reservoir of the Warana River occupying its centre.
Landscape and ecology
- Habitats: The reserve includes moist evergreen, semi‑evergreen, moist deciduous and dry deciduous forests interspersed with grasslands and lateritic plateaus known locally as sadaa. These varied habitats support high biodiversity.
- Flora: Tree species such as teak, Indian laurel, jamun and bamboo dominate the canopy. Understorey plants include medicinal species like Asparagus racemosus (shatavari) and Aegle marmelos (bel). Several rare orchids and shrubs endemic to the Western Ghats also thrive here.
- Fauna: Apart from tigers, the reserve is home to leopards, wild dogs (dholes), gaur, sambar, four‑horned antelope, mouse deer and the giant squirrel. Birdlife is rich, with hornbills and other endemic species frequently observed.
Tiger conservation efforts
- Translocation of tigresses: Authorities have released tigresses from source populations such as the Tadoba‑Andhari Tiger Reserve to Sahyadri to balance the sex ratio and encourage breeding.
- Habitat management: The reserve management is improving water availability, curbing grazing and restoring grasslands to create suitable prey base and shelter.
- Community involvement: Programmes are being run to promote coexistence, compensate villagers for livestock loss and support eco‑tourism initiatives that benefit local people.
Conclusion
The release of a third tigress signals renewed focus on reviving tiger populations in western Maharashtra. With sustained monitoring and community support, Sahyadri could become a secure corridor linking tiger habitats across the Western Ghats.
Source: Hindustan Times
