Nagpur, Dec 10 (UNI) A second tigress from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve has been relocated to the Sonarli acclimatisation enclosure at Chandoli National Park in Maharashtra’s Sahyadri Tiger Reserve as part of ongoing breeding and conservation initiatives, the forest department said.
The 2-year-old tigress, identified as T7-S2, was captured on Monday evening in Tadoba’s Kolara core range and subsequently examined to assess her health. Veterinary evaluations confirmed that she was in "excellent condition for transport". According to officials, T7-S2 is a healthy, robust young female currently in the dispersal phase and is ideal candidate for translocation.
She has now been placed in a ‘soft release’ enclosure designed to help her adapt to the new terrain, prey availability and environmental conditions before she is eventually released into the wild. The operation was conducted under the scientific supervision of the Wildlife Institute of India, with a WII Scientist and field biologist overseeing her acclimatisation and monitoring her behaviour.
Authorities noted that her capture took place strategically within her extensive home range, which spans portions of both the Tadoba and Kolara core areas. This translocation is part of a broader effort to rebuild a sustainable breeding population in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. Introducing a genetically diverse individual like T7-S2 is expected to reduce the risk of inbreeding and strengthen the long-term survival of Maharashtra’s tiger metapopulation.
The Forest Department stated that the successful soft release of this second female from Tadoba under Operation TARA (Tiger Augmentation and Range Expansion) marks a significant milestone in Sahyadri’s tiger revival programme. Chandoli National Park, they added, offers a safe habitat with ample prey to support her integration.
The coordinated conservation efforts of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Sahyadri Tiger Reserve under Operation TARA are driving Maharashtra’s tiger recovery mission forward. The smooth introduction of the second female tigress is a testament to the commitment and expertise of our field teams, the release added.
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