2 rewilded tigers stray into territorial forests of Satpura

Bhopal: Two radio-collared tigers released into the core area of Satpura Tiger Reserve earlier this year recently moved into the reserve's adjoining territorial forests, prompting forest officials to intensify monitoring of their movements as a precautionary measure.Forest department teams from both the reserve and territorial divisions are closely tracking the big cats through radio collars, while advising nearby villagers to remain alert and inform authorities if they spot the animals. Officials said the movement of the young tigers outside the core area is being carefully monitored round the clock to avoid any untoward incident.The development also raised concerns about the risks tigers face once they move beyond protected core zones. In a status report submitted recently to the Madhya Pradesh high court regarding tiger deaths in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, authorities stated that four of the eight tiger deaths recorded between Nov 21, 2025 and Feb 2 this year occurred due to electrocution after the animals ventured outside the reserve. The report was presented before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf while hearing a public interest litigation related to the spurt in tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh. Officials said such incidents highlight the dual risks that arise when big cats move out of protected habitats — danger to the animals from electrocution or other human-related threats, and the possibility of human-wildlife conflict in nearby villages."Both are adult tigers aged around 2 years. They were rescued from forests near Bhojpur in Raisen and were trained for rewilding. We adhered to all the protocols, and they were released in the wild after 8 months in January this year. They keep moving in and out of the core area. Both are radio-collared, and both are being monitored 24 by 7. They moved into the territorial forests from the core area. Each and every moment of both the big cats is being monitored and, as and when required, local villagers are being advised. Apart from the STR teams, territorial teams are also deployed for monitoring," field director at Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR), Rakhi Nanda, told TOI.Sources in the forest department said that field staff are continuously tracking the animals, while senior officials are also keeping a close watch on their movement. According to officials, dispersal of young tigers from core areas into adjoining forests is a natural part of the rewilding process, as the animals gradually explore new territories to establish their own range.Authorities said strict vigilance is being maintained to ensure the safety of both the animals and local residents, while allowing the natural process of dispersal to continue with minimal interference.