BIJNOR: The tiger population at the Amangarh Tiger Reserve, which was originally a part of the Jim Corbett National Parkand now forms its extension, has increased marginally. According to the latest census, the number has risen from 21 mature tigers and six cubs in 2021 to 28 mature tigers and four cubs now. A decade ago, there were just 12 tigers in this region.The increase in tiger population, however, seems to have had an adverse effect on leopards - they are being pushed out of forests. According to officials, a single big cat, highly territorial by instinct, rules over 8-odd sq km. The ATR is big enough to house only up to 12 tigers, and the felines are gradually moving to other forest ranges, which is a concern for the authorities.Shrinking territory has made leopards venture out of the forest more frequently, and experts believe it is one reason that over 35 leopards have been captured in human habitats and 16 people have been killed by leopard attacks.Recently, a tiger killed an elephant calf in the Badhapur range, which is known for jumbo dominance. Besides, the 20-odd villages on the fringes of the ATR, already under pressure because of the rising leopard population, are also under threat.Experts have said that the natural habitat for big cats is shrinking and territorial wars among tigers is inevitable. They suggested that more areas be declared as reserve forest to curb the cat fights and avert man-tiger conflict. Bijnor sub-divisional forest officer, Gyan Singh said, "Tigers are thriving here because the ATR has a large prey base. We have found that the big cats territory is shrinking – more than one tigers presence has been recorded in the same territory. Apart from sharing territories, tigers are also creating new territories in different areas such as Shahuwala, Badhapur and Kaudiya ranges, where they were rarely seen earlier." Retired divisional forest officer (Bijnor) Saleel Shukla added, "Over the past couple of years, the rise in tiger numbers has resulted in leopards being pushed out of the forests into sugarcane fields nearby, posing a threat to the farmers." While a tigress needs 8 to 10-sq km area as it has cubs to take care of, a male tiger can settle for a minimum of 5 to 6 sq km territory, provided there is an abundant prey base. At the same time, tigers are also known to travel long distances, often covering a 100-sq km area, Shukla added. Joel Lyall, author of Jungle Tales, said, "The tiger population is rising, but forest grasslands that support the prey base – herbivores – are shrinking. A fight among big cats is inevitable. It is necessary to expand the ATR area." A forest officer said the forest grasslands are shrinking due to encroachments by the pastoral Van Gujjars and farmers. He estimated that around 1,000 hectares of forest land has been lost and not just leopards, but tigers will also enter human territory in the near future. Najibabad divisional forest officer Ashutosh Pandey confirmed the presence of tigers in the elephant-dominated area and said, Recently an elephant calf was killed in a likely tiger attack in Barhapur range. There were some injury marks on the jumbo that indicated that it was killed by a tiger.

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