The tragic death of two tiger cubs on Tuesday in Uttarakhand, which were moved from Corbett Tiger Reserve to Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR) along with their mother highlights the challenges of predator relocation, experts have warned as they pointed out that conflicts between the two top predators can arise when their territories overlap.

The cubs, a male and a female, were killed by leopards in the Beriwada range of Rajaji. The mother tigress had given birth to four cubs in May, but now only two survive, said  RTR Director Saket Badola.

The translocated tigress had given birth to four cubs in the Chillawali range on May 24, he informed.

While stressing that normally leopards killing the tiger litters as happened in the RTR case should not be seen in isolation, the experts have called for better management to protect young cubs, who are vulnerable to attacks by leopards and other predators like jackals, hyenas, and pythons.

Cubs also face dangers from fires and other natural threats, added a former PCCF from the North Indian State on the condition of anonymity.

He said ensuring the safety of translocated predators and their offspring is crucial. This requires careful planning and monitoring to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

“When territories overlap, it increases the risk of confrontations as each species may perceive the other as a competitor or threat. In this case, the presence of leopards in the same area led to the fatal attacks on the tiger cubs as they were found to be vulnerable victims.”

As per the reports from the NTCA, the number of leopards and tigers have risen in the past few years, but this also burdens the authorities to enhance the number of prey so as to cut down the competition between the two carnivorous predators for ungulates.

These conflicts highlight the importance of carefully selecting and managing habitats for relocated animals to minimize dangerous encounters.

The wildlife has already lost six cubs in the past six months in the country while overall 68 royal big cats have succumbed to various reasons. These deaths have occurred inside as well as outside their habitat. Some of them have died in man-animal conflict as well as in infighting.

The wildlife expert cited a similar case reported last year when a male tiger cub was mauled to death by a leopard in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh. Another senior ex-PCCF from the State which is known to be the home of the highest number of tigers said that cubs are very vulnerable to attack by passing predators and many perish before their first year is out.

They are vulnerable to jackals, hyenas, leopards and pythons as well as other tigers who are potential threats.  “The tigress typically chooses a carefully hidden den to leave her cubs while she goes out to hunt. This strategy helps keep the cubs safe from predators and other threats. However, grass fires, which are sometimes started deliberately to improve grazing conditions, pose a significant risk and can kill many tiger cubs.

The cubs stay in the den for about four to eight weeks, during which time they are completely dependent on their mother for protection and nourishment. After this initial period, the cubs venture out into the world for the first time and begin to taste meat. They follow their mother in a single file, relying on the distinctive stripes of her tail and the large white spots behind her ears, which act like beacons guiding them and helping them stay close to her,”  the official explained the behavior of the mother tigress.