The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has appreciated the efforts of the Uttarakhand forest department in relocating tigers from the Corbett to Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR).

This comes after the body conducted an inspection of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve from January 6 to 8. Following the inspection, an eleven-point communication was sent to the Uttarakhand forest department by the NTCA for ‘strengthening’ tiger relocation exercise in the western part of the RTR. Earlier in 2017, the NTCA had given its nod to the relocation of five tigers to the western part of Rajaji in a phased manner.

Surender Mehra, deputy inspector general of the forest, NTCA, told TOI, “Undoubtedly, it is a great feat that the Uttarakhand forest department has been able to relocate two tigers from Corbett to Rajaji without the help of an external source. NTCA has given suggestions to boost this exercise further as tigers are being brought to a new landscape.”

“The two tigers that have been relocated to the western part of Rajaji are still under the process of establishing their territories in the new habitats. In view of this, the next tiger should be relocated once the chief wildlife warden feels that the already translocated tigers have acclimatised to the new habitat,” read Mehra’s communication, sent on January 12, to chief wildlife warden JS Suhag.

The NTCA has also suggested more patrolling on foot and on elephants. Also, the south boundary and fringe areas of RTR needs more vigilance, according to the regulatory body. The chief wildlife warden is also suggested to keep Motichur and Kansro ranges closed for the tourists till the big cats establish their territories in the area.

The communication also advises better liaison with the National Highways Authority of India as the construction of flyovers is underway at Chilla-Motichur, Teen-Pani, and Kansro-Barkot corridors through NH-72. This, according to the NTCA, will help in the timely completion of flyovers and unhindered movement of wildlife.

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