Tigress to be airlifted to Sariska sanctuary on Feb. 25

Tigress to be airlifted to Sariska sanctuary on Feb. 25

New Delhi (PTI): Come Wednesday, one of the four identified tigresses will be airlifted from Ranthambore Sanctuary to Sariska tiger reserve in Rajasthan.

“Last year in November, our plan of relocating second tigress could not take off as the identified female animal hid into the thick bush. Consequently we had to abandon the plan,” a senior Rajasthan forest official told PTI.

But this time the officials are leaving nothing to chance and hence preferred to have a wider choice by banking on four tigresses. They claim that chances of success are more this time in view of better visibility as compared to November last.

“We don’t want to fail this time, hence wider options. All the four identified tigresses are dispersing in nature and are adult in the age-group of 3-4 years. This is as per directive of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the tigress in all its likelihood will be shifted on February 25,” he added.

After successful introduction of a tiger couple last year in June and July, this is the second tigress that is planned to be introduced in Sariska where poachers have wiped all the big cats by 2005.

A two-member team comprising K Sankar and Parag Nigam from Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has already reached the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and identified the four tigresses, institute’s Director P R Sinha said.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200902231991.htm

http://bigcatrescue.org