Vidarbha, Chandrapur, India: Authorities in Maharashtra have identified two tigers from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and have begun efforts to capture them for relocation to the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha, an official said on October 22.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has approved the plan to relocate two tigers from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to the Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha, according to TATR field director Dr. Jitendra Ramgaokar.

A meeting between authorities from both tiger reserves was held to develop an action plan for relocating the tigers.

The Similipal Tiger Reserve had requested two tigers from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, the NTCA, and other agencies. “Following this request, the STR authorities received the required approval to relocate the tigers from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve,” said Ramgaokar.

He stated that two tigers from the Tadoba reserve have been identified. A team of 25 officials from both reserves has already started fieldwork to monitor the movement and behavior of the two tigers.

Ramgaokar mentioned that capturing non-problematic tigers is a challenging task, and officials are actively working in the field on the project. Once the two tigers are captured, they will be relocated to the Similipal Tiger Reserve.

TATR is home to nearly 100 tigers. Last year, two tigresses from the Bramhapuri range in Chandrapur were relocated to the Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve in Gondia district, Maharashtra. This was part of an intrastate tiger translocation program aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflict.

Six months ago, another tiger was relocated from Tadoba-Andhari to the NNTR. According to officials, at least 22 people have been killed by tigers, leopards, and wild boars in Chandrapur district so far this year.

Officials reported that 22 people were killed in man-animal conflicts last year, while 53 fatalities were reported in 2022 in the same region.