The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department is awaiting approval from the Central Government and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to translocate four female tigers to the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), a move aimed at strengthening the reserve’s long-term genetic health rather than increasing tiger numbers.
According to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) P.V. Chalapathi Rao, the proposal seeks to relocate two tigresses each from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The introduction of unrelated females is expected to improve genetic diversity, reduce the risk of inbreeding, and enhance the resilience of the tiger population in India’s largest tiger reserve.
NSTR Field Director C. Selvam said the reserve has witnessed encouraging growth in tiger numbers due to sustained habitat improvement measures, including grassland restoration, water conservation, prey augmentation, and strict anti-poaching efforts. He added that the proposed reintroduction of gaur later this year is expected to further improve prey availability for tigers.
Forest officials clarified that the reserve already has a healthy breeding population and is expected to record more than 10 cubs during the current breeding season. The proposed translocation is therefore intended to introduce fresh bloodlines, in line with globally accepted conservation practices, rather than address a shortage of breeding tigresses.
The department also highlighted the importance of voluntary relocation of villages from the reserve’s core area. Creating larger inviolate habitats is expected to benefit tigers and other wildlife by reducing human disturbance and improving breeding success.
According to NTCA guidelines, a viable tiger reserve should ideally have an inviolate core area of 800–1,200 sq km, around 20 breeding tigresses, a total tiger population of 75–100 individuals, and an ecologically sensitive buffer zone of 1,000–3,000 sq km to support dispersal and reduce human-wildlife conflict.
The Andhra Pradesh Forest Department is also pursuing a separate proposal to develop the Papikondalu forest landscape into a tiger reserve. However, priority has now been given to strengthening the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, with officials awaiting the Centre’s approval to implement the translocation programme.
Wildlife India News 
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