Tiger Released Back Into Odisha's Similipal Reserve

The famous Tigress originally translocated to Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, was relocated back to Odisha.

Genetic Pool and its role

The genetic pool is the total collection of genes within a population.
It plays a crucial role in wildlife conservation because it determines the population’s ability to adapt and survive.
A large and diverse genetic pool allows a population to respond to environmental changes, resist diseases, and maintain reproductive fitness.
In contrast, a small and less diverse genetic pool can lead to inbreeding, reduced fertility, and increased susceptibility to diseases, ultimately threatening the long-term survival of a species.

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Key Highlights on the Transfer

Purpose of original translocation: To enhance the genetic pool of tigers in Similipal but faced challenges due to her prolonged travels across three states.
Need of intervention: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) intervened, citing procedural violations, and instructed the tigress’s immediate return to Odisha.

About the Tiger Relocation Project

Initiation: Launched in 2018, starting with the translocation of two tigers from Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserves to Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Odisha.
Objectives: To reintroduce tiger populations in areas where they have become extinct or have a reduced presence.
- To address territorial disputes in regions with high tiger densities.

About Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR)

Designation and Recognition: Declared a Tiger Reserve in 1956 and became part of Project Tiger in 1973.
Recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2009.
Location: Situated in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, at the eastern edge of the Eastern Ghats.
Unique Features: The only place in the world to host melanistic (black) tigers.
Part of the Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve, which also includes Hadagarh and Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Biodiversity: Home to diverse fauna, including leopards, gaur, elephants, sloth bears, mongoose, and flying squirrels.
Tribal Communities: Inhabited by the Erenga Kharias and Mankirdias tribes, known for traditional agriculture and forest-based livelihoods.

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Key Authority: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Funding: The receiving states are responsible for covering the costs of tiger translocation efforts.
Challenges: The NTCA has currently held back permissions for relocating more tigers due to concerns over the Similipal project’s outcomes.

Additional Reading: Translocation Project; List Of Tiger Reserves In India; Achievements Of NTCA In 2023

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