'With a roar', young Sariska tiger steps into Ramgarh Vishdhari Reserve

Kota: The three-year-old tiger which had been missing from Sariska Tiger Reserve since Aug 17 and was on Sunday evening tranquillised in the forests of Jhabua, Haryana, was released into a one-hectare ‘soft enclosure' in Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR) in Bundi with a new tag, ‘RVT-4', early Monday morning at 5:30am. A male-female tiger pair live in the reserve with their two female cubs who are approximately 20 months old.

The tiger has been fitted with radio collar for continuous monitoring, DFO, RVTR, Sanjeev Sharma said.

The tiger with a resounding roar rushed out into the field and exhibited normal movement in the enclosure later in the day with brief rest and hydration, he added.

The tiger is anticipated to be released into the forest from the enclosure after fortnight, Sharma said.

Wildlife activists welcomed the new big cat in the reserve, anticipating it to boost wildlife tourism in the area. However, they urged the authorities to bring another female tiger into RVTR to pair with the new RVT-4 to prevent conflict between two male tigers over a female one.

After the death of female tiger RVT-2 last month, the pair of RVT-1 and RVT-3 with their female cubs are dwelling in RVTR. Prathvi Singh Rajawat, ex-wildlife warden and an environmentalist, said this necessitates inclusion of another female tiger to pair with the new one after it is released from soft enclosure, otherwise, there will be conflict over female RVTR-3.

Rajawat added that the new RVT-4 is notably aggressive in nature.