Just when the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is finalising the future roadmap of tiger conservation of Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha, the orders of the State Environment Minister to release a strayed tiger from Satkosia which is in Nandan Kanan Zoo for more than a year, in Simlipal have created a controversy.
Such a move, according to experts, will be detrimental to both the tiger and human population. While its stay in the zoo has weakened its instincts to survive in the wild, there are also three villages in the core area of the reserve. The presence of the tiger will create man tiger conflicts in the area.
According to well-placed sources, the Odisha Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Rautray’s order is for immediate release of the adult male tiger in Simlipal. It has completed its one year in Nandankanan Zoo on April 30.
Going by the urgency of the minister’s order, the wildlife wing may not have time to wait for radio collaring and release the tiger accordingly in consultation with NTCA, by following the necessary protocols. Well-placed sources revealed, “Satellite radio collars will have to be imported and only after placing order for a custom-made device.
The whole process can, however, take anything between two to three months by the end of which the monsoon would have arrived. Given the terrain of STR, releasing the tiger during the rainy season is practically impossible.”
Honorary Wildlife warden, STR, Vanoomitra Acharya, such an action if carried out and that too without radio collaring will be a big blunder on the part of the forest department. The tiger being a young male will certainly try to establish its territory once released in the reserve. As per the 2010 tiger estimation by NTCA there are about 23 tigers.
Its numbers are likely to have gone up further, following results of camera traps. Hence, the chances of territorial infighting between the newly released tiger and the other dominant males in the reserve are obvious.