In order to boost tourism at Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR), the Forest Department of Maharashtra is considering translocation of at least four tigresses from Brahmapuri and Chandrapur ranges to NNTR, where the tiger population has been excess, often resulting in man-animal conflict cases.

Notably, the territory of NNTR is spread in over 653 square kms area of Gondia and Bhandara districts . Established in 2014, NNTR is known for its rich flora and fauna where a good number of tourists visit the park every year. Though the number of visitors had declined during the COVID-19 pandemic as the park was closed for tourism, the situation is improving gradually.

A three-member team of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had visited the park to study the habitat, diversity, prey base, corridor area, etc. The study started by the team from the last one month is expected to continue for the next five to six months as WII is also going to monitor the success of the translocation if it is carried out.

Importantly, as of now the presence of only eight big cats was reported in the NNTR which is very insufficient given the 653 sq kms area of the park. There were 3 male and 5 female big cats, whereas the minimum capacity of the park is at least 25 beasts. Confirming the proposal and the WII research, Deputy Director Pavan Jephe while speaking to ‘The Hitavada’ informed that NNTR had less number of tigers considering its capacity while the population of leopards and ‘Dhol’ was more.

“There are more than eight leopards per hundred square kilometres and frequent sightings of leopards are recorded in the park as compared to that of tigers. The tiger population is almost the same in the last 10-12 years and the proposal to translocate the tigresses would help in increasing the tiger population and that may also lead to increase in the number of visitors,”, Jephe said.

He added that considering the survival of a high number of leopards and dhols, it appears that there is a good prey base in the park. The habitat is good and in the past few years, the management has developed good grassland in the relocated villages of Kalimati, Kawlevada and Zhankargondi, which are now part of the NNTR. Tiger is considered as the ‘apex specie’ and a good tiger population is an indication that the reserve also has a good number of other species, Jephe added. It is gathered that the WII team has carried out research and ground study of the park . Honorary Wildlife Warden Sawan Bahekar has also welcomed the proposal and said that the exercise will also help in balancing the tiger population of NNTR. This will help in growing the tiger population in NNTR, but the authorities should pay attention towards their past behaviour. The big cat that would be translocated to NNTR should not have records of cattle kill or attacks on humans. WII representative Bilal Habib has also stated that their team has visited the NNTR and conducted study and that their exercise is going to be continued for next 5 to 6 months.