The ambitious tiger re-introduction in Odisha’s Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR) has been put on hold following death of a tiger, which was trans-located from Kanha Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh.
“We received information about tiger mortality at around 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Till 10 a.m., the tiger was alive and its movement had been recorded through radio collar fastened around his neck. Carcass was traced within 5 km of the STR core area. For the time-being, the tiger re-introduction project has been put on hold,” said Sandeep Tripathi, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (wildlife), on Thursday afternoon.
The tiger MB-2 as it was named in Kanha was found dead inside Satkosia on Wednesday.
Elaborating on tiger’s death, Mr. Tripathi said, “as per prima facie investigation of the carcass, a deep lacerated and five-days-old maggot infection wound was observed in the dorsal neck region of the tiger, which may be the cause of the mortality.”
The site of incidence was not disturbed as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority protocol. Hence, the exact reason of the mortality and time of incidence will be ascertained after conduct of the detail postmortem, he said.
According to PCCF (wildlife), a team comprising of government veterinarians, representative of NTCA and others has been constituted to conduct the postmortem in accordance with the standard operating procedure of the NTCA. The disposal of carcass through incineration will be carried out in presence of the veterinarian team and others.
Ramasamy P., Divisional Forest Officer of Satkosia Wildlife Division, has been appointed as investing officer to probe into the matter and for initiating further course of action.
Satkosia that spreads along gorge over Mahanadi River in Odisha was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1976. The area was declared as Satkosia Tiger Reserve in 2007, comprising of two adjoining wildlife sanctuaries – the Satkosia Gorge sanctuary and Baisipalli sanctuary. The Reserve is spread over four districts such as Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh.
The STR once boasted of having over 10 tigers. Odisha government had chalked out a tiger re-introduction programme in the STR where the big cat population had dwindled due to several reasons including anthropogenic interference and poor prey base.
“About ₹18-19 crore would have been spent on the tiger recovery progamme. The fund inflow was fixed at 60:40 ratio. The centre would bear 60% of the total outlay while State’s contribution would have been 40%,” said Mr. Tripathi.
Under the project approved by NTCA, three pairs of tigers were to be trans-located from Madhya Pradesh. The three-year-old MB-2 was transferred to Satkisia on June 21 last. It was the first ever interstate tiger translocation in India.
Subsequently, Sundari, a tigress, was trans-located from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh. Following two incidences of alleged human maulings by Sundari, villagers living in and around the Satkosia got angry.
Moreover, the tigress used to stray into human habitation repeatedly which became untenable for the wildlife wing of State forest department to allow Sundari roam free. A decision was taken to recapture the tigress. The animal was successfully tranquilized in the first week of this month. It has since been kept in special enclosure put up inside Satkosia. The fate of tigress is not known as the NTCA and the State government is evaluating the pros of cons of shifting Sundari out of Satkosia.
