New tigress brings hope to Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve

Raipur | Correspondent: The arrival of a four-year-old tigress at Chhattisgarh's Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve earlier this year has given fresh hope to forest officials trying to revive the reserve's shrinking tiger population.

The tigress, named 'Paheli', has successfully survived the peak summer season despite limited water and prey availability. Forest officials say this is a positive sign that the reserve can once again support resident tigers.

Paheli got her name because her stripe pattern did not match any tiger recorded in the Wildlife Institute of India’s database. Since entering the reserve, she has established her territory and has frequently been spotted in areas also used by elephant herds.

To ensure her safety, the forest department is monitoring her movements through regular patrols, camera traps and thermal drones. Officials are also planning to fit her with a radio collar to track her location if she moves into neighbouring Odisha or other regions.

Udanti-Sitanadi has witnessed a sharp decline in tiger numbers over the years. The reserve had 18 tigers in 1998, but the number dropped to three by 2006. Although Udanti and Sitanadi wildlife sanctuaries were merged and declared a tiger reserve in 2009, no resident tiger remained in the reserve by 2023. The population of the state's animal, the wild buffalo, also declined drastically during this period.

In an effort to restore the ecosystem, the National Tiger Conservation Authority has approved the translocation of three tigers-one male and two females-from Madhya Pradesh. The forest department is also developing more than 500 hectares of grassland and creating new water bodies to improve habitat conditions and increase prey availability.

Officials said over 956 hectares of encroached land have been reclaimed in recent years, while more than 100 poachers have been arrested in 15 inter-state operations conducted with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. Three female wild buffaloes brought from Assam are also expected to be released into the reserve soon, adding momentum to conservation efforts in the region. (Symbolic photo)