Tigress ST-30 delivers triplets in Sariska
2
Alwar: Giving a fresh lease of life to the
tiger relocation project
in Rajasthan,
Tigress ST-30
, shifted from Ranthambore National Park to
Sariska Tiger Reserve
in 2023, gave birth to three cubs in the Tehla range near Bhagani village, bringing the reserve's total tiger count to 44. The cubs, believed to be around two months old, were recently spotted by forest staff during a routine patrol.
An official confirmed that the cubs appeared healthy and said that monitoring in the area was intensified. Chief conservator of forests Sangram Singh said, "The monitoring efforts in the area have been increased. Both camera traps and ground patrols have been intensified to ensure minimal human interference and the safety of the new tiger family."
With the addition of these three cubs, the Sariska Tiger Reserve now comprises 18 tigresses, 11 adult males, and 17 cubs. Stakeholders are optimistic, as the presence of the new cubs is expected to boost the chances of tiger sightings for tourists visiting the reserve in the coming days.
Stakeholder and environmentalist Priyawrat Singh Kutnai said, "Conservation efforts are yielding positive results at the park. The area where the tigress was sighted was inhabited with people some time back, and the village was relocated, making inviolate space for the big cats. The only tiger reserve in the NCR attracts many conservationists and tourists, and improved sighting will benefit all the stakeholders."
The livelihood of many villagers in and around STR depends on the well-being of the reserve. Ganesh Saini, a local resident, said, "There are more than 20 hotels in the area, which provide direct and indirect employment opportunities to more than 2,000 people. The tiger growth at the park is expected to boost conservation and employment."
Another forest staff member noted that the tigress was shifted at a crucial stage, as the majority of big cats at STR were old and ailing, and young tigers were moving out. After ST-3 died, there was a bleak possibility of tiger sightings in the Tehla range. "It's a successful relocation, and sweets were distributed by the monitoring and forest staff on Tuesday," he said.
This birth is part of a broader wave of good news for wildlife enthusiasts in Rajasthan. In the past 72 hours, 10 tiger cubs were born across three different locations in the state. Apart from Sariska, two cubs were seen with tigress T-2313 in Ranthambore National Tiger Reserve, and five were born to tigress Rani at Jaipur's Nahargarh Biological Park.
Minister of state for forests, Sanjay Sharma, expressed his excitement over these developments and congratulated the forest staff for their dedicated conservation efforts.
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