Raipur: Tigers from Madhya Pradesh's reserves will soon call the forests of Rajasthan, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh as their new home.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has approved an ambitious scheme to relocate tigers to address territorial conflicts and promote wildlife conservation.
Under the plan, Rajasthan will receive 4 female tigers, Odisha will receive 1 male and 2 female tigers and Chhattisgarh will receive 8 tigers (2 males and 6 females).
The tigers will be sourced from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Pench Tiger Reserve, and Kanha Tiger Reserve.
PCCF Shubhoranjan Sen stated that the relocation will proceed after approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Centre. The move aims to alleviate territorial disputes caused by a growing tiger population in Madhya Pradesh's reserves.
Madhya Pradesh boasts the highest tiger population in India, with 785 tigers, earning it the title of Tiger State. The state is also home to the rare white tiger, now nearing extinction.
Bandhavgarh National Park alone houses over 100 tigers, making it the state's largest tiger habitat.
Madhya Pradesh recently participated in a Wildlife Exchange Programme, providing two tigers, Nandani and Bandhavgarh, to Gujarat in exchange for a pair of lions. The lions are now housed at Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal.
Plans are underway to bring one-horned rhinoceroses and buffaloes from Assam to further enhance the state's wildlife diversity.
The relocation initiative highlights efforts to balance tiger populations across states while promoting wildlife conservation and sustainable habitat management.
