A young male tiger, originally from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal, has captured attention after walking nearly 500 kilometers to reach Solapur district. The 2.5-year-old tiger, believed to be searching for new territory, will soon undergo capture. The authorities will then release it back into the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. The reserve is located 300 kilometers from Mumbai, spanning the districts of Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Ratnagiri.
Journey of Male Tiger and Tracking Efforts
The Maharashtra Forest Department has confirmed that a team from the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) will soon arrive in Dharashiv, Solapur district. They will begin the capture process of the tiger at that time. The authorities will fit the tiger with a radio collar before releasing it into the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, ensuring they can track its movements. The department has been closely monitoring the tiger’s movements. Camera traps have been installed in the area to track its whereabouts.
According to forest officials, the young tiger is the cub of Tigress T22, born in 2022 at Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. The tiger has recently been sighted in the Barshi taluka of Solapur, where local farmers reported an increase in cattle attacks. These reports prompted the installation of camera traps, revealing the tiger’s presence. This marks the first recorded sighting of a tiger in the Yedshi Ramalinga Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the Dharashiv district of Marathwada.
A Long Search for New Territory
Experts believe the tiger is likely roaming in search of new territory, as is common with young male tigers. At approximately 2.5 years old, the tiger’s journey has gained attention. It has drawn comparisons to the travels of other tigers from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary. Notably, in 2019, a tiger named Walker made headlines for its incredible journey. Fitted with a radio collar, Walker traveled nearly 3,000 kilometers, making it the longest walking tiger ever tracked. Walker’s journey took it across eight districts in Maharashtra and Telangana, where it eventually reached Dnyanganga Sanctuary by December 2019.
Following Walker, another male tiger, T3C1, took a 330-kilometer journey from Tipeshwar to Gautala Autram Sanctuary in Aurangabad. Remarkably, T3C1’s travels were completed without any reported incidents of human-animal conflict, making it a rare occurrence in conservation circles.
Conservation Efforts and the Future of Maharashtra’s Tiger
The Maharashtra Forest Department is actively monitoring tigers like Max to track their movements. This effort ensures their safe passage through the state’s wildlife corridors. Furthermore, experts highlight the critical role of tracking, radio collaring, and wildlife conservation in preserving tiger populations across India. As the tiger from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary prepares for its return to the wild, the authorities are hopeful that the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve will offer the creature a safe haven to thrive. Ultimately, they aim to contribute to the growing tiger population in Maharashtra.
In the coming months, conservationists and forest officials will continue to track these tiger movements, promoting the vital need for safe wildlife corridors and habitats for tigers and other wildlife in the region.
