Bhubaneswar: To revive the tiger population in Odisha, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has approved an ambitious inter-state tiger translocation project for the Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR) in Angul district. Over the next five years, 14 tigers will be relocated from Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) to Satkosia, aiming to boost the state’s tiger population.
The Forest Department has devised a plan to introduce genetically similar tigers from Maharashtra, which is expected to enhance the tiger gene pool in Odisha. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Susanta Nanda, confirmed that the relocation will begin once all NTCA conditions are met.
Local community involvement will be crucial for the project’s success, and extensive discussions will be held with residents and representatives to ensure a smooth transition. The core area of Satkosia has already been cleared of human settlements, and several buffer zone villages have been evacuated in preparation for the tigers’ arrival.
This initiative follows a previous attempt in 2018 that ended in failure. The death of Mahavir, a relocated tiger from Kanha Tiger Reserve, and the return of Sundari, a tiger from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, were setbacks for the earlier translocation efforts. Despite these challenges, the Forest Department remains optimistic that this new project will successfully restore Satkosia’s tiger population and strengthen the state’s conservation efforts.
The project marks a critical step in Odisha’s wildlife conservation strategy, aimed at preserving its ecological balance and ensuring the long-term survival of tigers in the region.