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India set to make history at Sariska

JAIPUR: The country is on the threshold of making history by re-introducing wild tigers in one of its sanctuaries. If everything goes according to plan and the weather gods are merciful, a tiger—probably a female—would be airlifted on Saturday from Ranthambhore National Park for release in Sariska Tiger Reserve. The trial run for the operation was carried out on Friday with an Indian Air Force helicopter covering the 200-km distance between the two sanctuaries in Rajasthan in 40-45 minutes.

Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar district, which set for itself a dubious distinction in 2004-05 by losing all its wild cats to what is suspected to be poaching, is now ready to receive the flagship animal back. The period following the loss of tigers had rendered the 881 sq km reserve, a favourite weekend destination for Delhiites, into near oblivion. In the absence of the tigers, leopards and other lesser carnivores registered an increased presence in the area.

Ever since the Central Tiger Task Force headed by Sunita Narain, which studied the post-Sariska tiger status, in its report set conditions for re-introduction of the tiger in Sariska, the reserve witnessed a lot of activity including shifting out of a village. A final decision on re-introduction of the animal was taken this year and the tentative dates were set a month ago.

Now at the end of the month-long preparations under the supervision of experts from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the National Tiger Conservation Authority of India (NTCAI) the two “tiger holding areas” (the word “enclosure” is consciously avoided) are ready to receive the first batch of two tigers -- well in time for the monsoon showers in this Aravalli mountain domain. The third tiger is likely to be shifted during winter.

“Everything is set. The trial run went off smoothly and now it all would depend on tomorrow’s weather,” said P. S. Somashekar, Field Director, Sariska, talking to The Hindu on phone. The flight from the new helipad constructed in Ranthambhore at Anatpura to the one near Nayapani inside Sariska -- where the two tiger holding locations have been created -- took less than an hour. WII expert Shanker and his colleague veterinarian Mallick were joined in the trail flight by Seduram Yadav, Assistant Conservator, at Ranthambhore, he informed.

Ranthambhore witnessed hectic activity in the past few months when the experts including P. R. Sinha, Director WII, Dehra Dun, Rajesh Gopal, Director, NTCAI, along with R. N. Mehrotra, Chief Wildlife Warden, Rajasthan, remained in the area for days together to accomplish the task of identifying the tigers for shifting. Dr. Gopal, along with Meena Gupta, Union Secretary, Environment and Forests, is reaching Sariska on Saturday to witness the release.

“The most crucial aspect in this operation is the animal’s safety. It is a very delicate exercise and the matter is extremely sensitive,” noted Rajpal Singh, member of the Rajasthan Government’s Empowered Committee on Forests and Wildlife. “We want to move the female tiger first as per the recovery plan but it all depends on which of the three marked animals comes within the tranquillizer gun’s reach,” Mr. Singh said.

The chosen tigers -- of three to four years age -- are radio-collared and there is a team tracking them round the clock.

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