In a landmark move for wildlife conservation, a three-year-old tigress was airlifted from Madhya Pradesh's Pench Tiger Reserve to Rajasthan's Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR) on Sunday. The Indian Air Force (IAF) played a crucial role, utilizing an Mi-17 helicopter to transport the tigress, marking the first time Rajasthan has received a tiger from another state via an official interstate translocation program. The relocation aims to augment the tiger population in Ramgarh Vishdhari and enhance genetic diversity among tiger landscapes.
The intricate operation followed nearly a month of meticulous groundwork within Pench Tiger Reserve. Approximately 50 AI-enabled camera traps and motion-sensor cameras were strategically placed across the Kurai & Rukhad ranges to monitor the tigress's movement patterns, territory use, and daily activities. Field teams diligently reviewed the camera data twice daily to pinpoint a safe window for capturing the tigress. On Saturday, teams strategically positioned themselves to minimize disturbance during the capture.
Wildlife veterinarians carefully tranquilized the tigress adhering strictly to established protocols, while ground staff secured the area, ensuring no civilian interference. Before placing the animal in a specially designed transport crate equipped with proper ventilation and monitoring access, veterinarians conducted a thorough health examination. Throughout the process of moving the crate to a designated helipad within the reserve, her vital signs were closely monitored. An Mi-17 helicopter landed at first light, and the loading process was completed swiftly to minimize the time spent on the ground. Senior veterinarians and forest officers from both Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan accompanied the tigress on board, continuously monitoring her condition throughout the flight. The IAF MI-17 helicopter airlifted the tigress around 6 p.m..
Officials favored airlifting over road transport to significantly reduce travel time and stress on the animal, and to avoid traversing forest corridors and human-dominated landscapes. A senior forest officer from Pench Tiger Reserve noted that Rajasthan had requested three tigresses from MP and two from Maharashtra to address inbreeding issues among its felines. This translocation is expected to improve the gene pool and safeguard the tiger population. Pench Tiger Reserve deputy director Rajneesh Singh stated that the relocation would increase the tiger population in Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve and help strengthen genetic diversity among different tiger landscapes.
The operation is considered a potential model for future inter-state tiger translocations approved by the NTCA, which has sanctioned the translocation of 15 tigers from MP to Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha as part of a larger conservation effort. India's first attempt at interstate tiger movement occurred in 2018, when a male tiger from Kanha and a tigress from Bandhavgarh were transported to Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha; however, that project ended in failure.
