A rehabilitated male tiger, RVT-07, has shown encouraging signs of successfully adapting to life in the wild after being released into the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR) in Rajasthan. Forest officials reported that the tiger has been living independently in the open forest for 18 days, exhibiting natural behaviours essential for survival.

RVT-07, now three-and-a-half years old, was rescued as an orphaned cub in 2024 following the death of its mother. As part of Rajasthan’s pioneering scientific rewilding programme, the cub was reared under controlled conditions before being shifted to a five-hectare rewilding enclosure in RVTR, where it spent nearly 19 months learning hunting and survival skills before voluntarily entering the wild on 24 June 2026.

Since its release, monitoring teams have documented the tiger successfully hunting wild prey, making territorial scrape and scratch marks, and scent-marking—all clear indicators that it is behaving like a wild tiger. These observations suggest that the rehabilitation programme has effectively prepared the animal for independent survival.

The tiger has also encountered several resident tigers, including the dominant male RVT-01, a cub, and two female tigers. While these interactions raise the possibility of future breeding, forest officials are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any serious territorial conflicts.

The Rajasthan Forest Department is tracking RVT-07 round the clock using GPS-VHF radio collars, radio telemetry, camera traps, and ground patrol teams. Continuous monitoring is helping officials assess the tiger’s movements, behaviour, and safety as it establishes its territory in the 1,500 sq km Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve.

The successful adaptation of RVT-07 marks a significant milestone in Rajasthan’s wildlife conservation efforts. It demonstrates that scientifically rehabilitated orphaned tigers can be successfully reintroduced into the wild, offering a valuable model for future tiger conservation and rewilding programmes in India.

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