Sariska Reserve on verge of confirming arrival of tiger cubs
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The Pioneer
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New Delhi
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9 Jul 2012
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After waiting for four long years, officials at the Sariska Tiger Reserve may soon find a reason to cheer as tell-tale signs point to the arrival of new tiger cubs. The officials are presently guarded over the development as the cubs are yet to be spotted either on camera or by officials, but the change in behaviour of one of tigress ST-2 is enough for them to be fairly sure. This would see arduous efforts in protecting big cat habitats so they not only continue existence but also multiply paying off.
In another development that has Forest officials heaving a sigh of relief is the spotting of another tigress ST-6. ST-6 was feared to have been killed by villagers according to rumours that made rounds of late.
Tourism, Forest and Environment Minister Bina Kak, who visited the Reserve on Saturday told The Pioneer on Sunday that the way this tigress was behaving gave sufficient indication to the experts that she has become a mother.
Sources said ST-2 is keeping herself confined to the Kalighati area of the forest for since past fortnight. This is against the normal behaviour of a tigress, which usually keeps moving in the forest in search of kill. This indicates that she has become mother and was taking care of her new born.
Normally they hide their cubs for two to three months. Seduram, a forest guard, had also claimed that he had seen the tigress mating a few months back. He passed this information on to officials who then avoided tranquilizing the tigress to replace her radio collar.
Kak said that with this good news, forest officials are preparing to shift one more tiger in the forest either from Ranthambhore National Park or from any other tiger reserve. About eight years ago tigers had disappeared from Sariska mainly due to poaching.
To rehabilitate the reserve, a plan was prepared to bring few tigers and tigresses from Ranthambhore where the number of the big cats was growing. Experts were sure re- located tigers
would settle in their new habitat and begin mating. In all, six tigers and tigresses were brought here. But when nothing happened during the past four years, many tiger experts doubted the success of the project, which was first of its kind in the work.
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