Tiger numbers see uptick in Chhattisgarh after plummeting for years, state hopes for more from neighbour

All the 35 tigers are from Chhattisgarh without any one being translocated. But officials assume some of them might have migrated to the state in search of new homes. In a bid to ramp up the numbers, Chhattisgarh will have more tigers, translocated from Madhya Pradesh, according to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Arun Kumar Pandey. Pandey added that permission has been received to translocate five tigers — two tigeresses and one male tiger in the Udanti reserve and three male tigers in Guru Ghasidas reserve.

“The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has approved the translocation of tigers from Madhya Pradesh to Udanti-Sitanadi and Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserves in near future,” Pandey added.

In addition, the forest department has almost finalised its comprehensive Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP) to tackle various challenges. TCP also includes measures to boost tourism in the tiger reserves.

Last year, Chhattisgarh had declared its Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla reserve as India’s 56th tiger reserve. Spread across four districts, it is the third largest in the country. The remaining three tiger reserves in the state are Indravati (Bijapur district), Udanti-Sitanadi (Gariaband-Dhamtari) and Achanakmar (Mungeli).

Achanakmar has the highest number of tigers in the state (18), Guru Ghasidas has seven, Indravati six, Bhoramdeo Sanctuary three and Udanti one. Efforts are also being made to increase the count of wild buffalo, Chhattisgarh’s state animal.

In the meeting, Chief Minister Sai stressed that similar efforts must also be directed towards the conservation of other wildlife species. However, increasing the count of buffaloes will involve translocation from Assam.