Wildlife officials prepare for tiger translocation in Debrigarh

Bhubaneswar: Wildlife authorities are gearing up to welcome tigers in the second leg of the translocation programme, during which the big cats will be introduced in Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary, forest minister Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia said on Monday.

The authorities are readying to meet mandatory requirements such as tiger selection, villagers’ sensitisation, making a soft enclosure, capacity building and erecting 120 km-long iron mesh fencing. “We have asked the divisional forest officer and the regional chief conservator of forest to set up watchtowers so that tigers’ movements can be tracked once the animals are released. We are nearing completion of all formalities to bring the tigers to Debrigarh,” Singkhuntia told the media.

National Tiger Conservation Authority has given the go-ahead to bring tigers. The state now needs to select the source habitat from where tigers will be brought. Earlier, Debrigarh authorities visited Madhya Pradesh to study tiger habitats. However, it is yet to be ascertained which source habitat will be selected to pick the right pair of a male and female big cat, wildlife officials said.

Officials added that local people’s representatives and villagers need to understand the need to bring tigers so that, post-release, any hiccups can be handled without hassle. The 120 km-long steel mesh boundary along the human habitation is meant to maintain a barrier between 150 villages and the sanctuary.

Wildlife authorities said a proposal of Rs 70 crore was sent to the govt to augment various aspects of nature tourism, apart from adding more strength to conservation by building the steel mesh. The first leg of the tiger translocation programme was introduced in Similipal Tiger Reserve.

Earlier, the wildlife wing wrote to the revenue department to hold a gram sabha in 55 villages adjoining Debrigarh wildlife sanctuary, a mandatory exercise before notifying it as a tiger reserve. Recently, an expert committee formed to conduct a study in the sanctuary submitted its report.

Wildlife officials said after being notified, it will be the first tiger reserve in western Odisha. The reserve, as per NTCA’s recommendation, will have a total area of 804 sq km, with a core area of 353 sq km without human habitation. Inside the core area, there will be no revenue village.

Sources said 7 tiger reserves in India have a core area below 300 sq km, but Debrigarh has 353 sq km. Considering Debrigarh’s positioning in terms of water sources and prey density, NTCA recommended prey supplementation (translocation) that can, in the long run, help sustain big cats.