Bhubaneswar: Odisha is gearing up to boost the tiger population in the Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR) in Angul district with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approving an inter-state tiger translocation program. The project will see 14 tigers relocated from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) to Satkosia over the next five years.
The plan, crafted by the Forest Department, aims to bring genetically similar tigers from Maharashtra to Odisha, a move that is expected to significantly enhance the state’s tiger population.
According to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Susanta Nanda, the translocation process will begin once all conditions set by the NTCA are met.
Ahead of the project launch, extensive discussions will be held with local residents and representatives to ensure smooth execution. The core area of the reserve has already been cleared of settlements, with several villages in the buffer zone also evacuated.
This initiative comes after a previous translocation attempt in 2018 ended in failure. Mahavir, a tiger from Kanha Tiger Reserve, was found dead a few months after being relocated to Satkosia, while Sundari, another relocated tiger from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, had to be returned due to complications.
Despite past setbacks, the Forest Department remains optimistic about the new plan, which aims to restore Satkosia’s tiger population and bolster conservation efforts.
