Tadoba tiger’s conduct, health meet NTCA protocol for rehabilitation in natural habitat

The health and conduct of the transient male tiger, a native of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, meet every criterion for rehabilitation in its natural habitat.

The tiger didn’t attack any human being despite venturing into human habitats and urban landscapes, restricting itself to preying on cattle for survival.

The big cat, which was tranquilised at a cattle shed in Kurmapuram of East Godavari district around 6.50 p.m. on Friday, was admitted to the Animal Rescue Centre (ARC-Visakhapatnam) on Saturday (February 7). The same day, the Forest Department constituted a special committee to monitor the tiger at the ARC and take a call on its rehabilitation.

According to sources, a number of people who had gathered near the cattle shed on Friday, disturbed the tiger by shouting at it and jostling to take its photos on mobile phone, jeopardising the tranquilisation effort. They also hindered the operation after the dart was shot. Despite the provocations, however, the animal didn’t attack anyone.

Right to life in wild

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deal with emergency arising due to tigers straying into human-dominated landscapes mandates: “In case, the tranquilised tiger is found to be healthy in prime or young age without any incapacitation (injury, broken paw, etc.), then it may be released after radio collaring in a suitable habitat with adequate prey base, away from the territory of a resident male tiger (if any) or human settlements.”

The SOP, however, advise against releasing an injured/incapacitated tiger back into the wild, recommending that it be sent to a recognised zoo.

Sound health

Speaking to The Hindu, Rajamahendravaram Chief Conservator of Forest B.N.N. Murthy said the the tiger is healthy and didn’t suffer any injury during its entire journey or during tranquilisation.

Mr. Murthy, who has 15 tiger rescue operations to his credit in various landscapes in India, added that the tiger needs to be away from the “human footprint” for some days as it walked through human settlements and urban landscapes, mostly in Andhra Pradesh. 

Wildlife experts working in tiger landscapes in Andhra Pradesh, however, highlighted the poor upkeep of the ‘rewilding facility’ developed on 35-hectare of core forest area in the Nagarjuna Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), making it unsuitable for Tadoba tiger’s rehabilitation. In this facility, tigers rescued after straying into human habitations are habituated to their natural habitat and natural hunting by offering prey.