Tigers stray into human settlements near Rajasthan's Ranthambore National Park

JAIPUR: Tigers from Ranthambore National Park are increasingly straying into human settlements, forcing authorities to intervene with tranquilisation efforts.On Sunday morning, a team tranquilised a tigress named Arrowhead near the Sherpur helipad.

The operation took about one to one-and-a-half hours of intense effort. After sedation, the tigress was released back into her territory near Shivraj Anicut.A forest staff member said, “The tigress was moving near the helipad close to Sherpur village since Saturday night. Residents of the area informed the Forest Department, but due to darkness, the team could not tranquilise the tigress at night. On Sunday morning around 6:30 am, when the rescue team reached the spot, the tigress was found hiding in the bushes.

This made the tranquilisation process quite challenging.

”A JCB machine was called in to assist with the operation. To keep the crowd at bay, which gathered at the location, forest and police personnel were deployed. Using the JCB, the team was able to spot and tranquilise the tigress. She was then taken in the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve’s rescue vehicle and released into the forest. The entire operation lasted about one to one-and-a-half hours.

In the past one and a half months, the department tranquilised three tigers in these peripheral zones. Tigers were tranquilised near Hotel Sawai Vilas, Kutalpura Malyan, and now at the Sherpur helipad. The Forest Department also tranquilised a female cub named Kanakti, the offspring of tigress Arrowhead (T-84), and released her into a Bheed enclosure.Meanwhile, the movement of tigress Riddhi and her family is intermittently recorded inside the fort.

Experts point to an increasing prey base inside the fort as a key factor attracting big cats. Over the years, small shops have sprung up inside the fort, and visitors often offer ritual food items like *chana*, *prasad*, and flour to wild animals or leave behind waste. These readily available food sources have attracted herbivores such as langurs and sambar, as well as omnivores like wild boars—creating a prey-rich environment that naturally draws tigers.“One of the primary reasons the fort has become a hotspot for tigers is the increase in prey species attracted by leftover food and ritual offerings. The ready availability of these food sources is changing the natural habits of wildlife, encouraging them to gather in larger numbers and remain close to human activity. This shift not only disrupts the ecological balance but also increases the risk of human-wildlife conflicts. Therefore, a strict ban on feeding wild animals inside the fort is essential to preserve both visitor safety and animal welfare,” said an expert.