‘Queen of Sahyadri’: Tigress successfully released in Maharashtra’s Chandoli National Park. Watch video

Forest Department officials said the tigress (T-20-S-2) was safely located in the Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur last week for release into STR.

“After arrival, the tigress underwent a carefully planned habituation, observation and acclimatisation phase in a pre-release enclosure, where her movement, behaviour, feeding pattern, response to natural elements, territorial marking, activity rhythm, prey interest and avoidance instincts were scientifically monitored. Expert veterinarians and wildlife biologists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) conducted daily behavioural assessments and declared her fit for full wild release,” a press release said.

The press release stated that the enclosure was opened at 4.30 pm on November 18 at a location in the Chandoli National Park in the Sangli region. But the tigress took time to come out, and she finally came out at around 8.15 am Thursday. The Forest Department made arrangements for her food for the two days.

‘An important milestone’

The tigress has now started marking her territory from the enclosure, proving herself as “The Queen of Sahyadri,” according to the press release.

Tushar Chavan, Field Director, STR, said, “The tigress has shown excellent adaptive behaviour, natural activity patterns and ecological responses inside the pre-release enclosure. She is perfectly fit, healthy and ready to thrive in the wilderness of Chandoli National Park. Our teams, supported by WII scientists, are fully prepared for responsible and scientific post-release monitoring. This marks an important milestone in the Sahyadri tiger recovery programme, which is being executed with the highest conservation ethics and scientific precision.”

M S Reddy, Chief Wildlife Warden, Maharashtra, said, “This initiative reflects Maharashtra’s scientific, systematic and long-term approach to wildlife conservation. With expert teams from STR and WII in place for continuous monitoring, this release strengthens our efforts to re-establish a healthy and viable tiger population in the Sahyadri landscape.”

Rohan Bhate, honorary wildlife warden, who was a part of the initiative and witnessed the release of the tigress, said, “There are three male tigers in the STR. With the release of a tigress, we hope breeding will happen, and it will increase the tiger population in STR, which is required to strengthen biodiversity. The Forest Department team carried out the entire procedure scientifically and successfully.”

Monitoring the tigress

The press release said a radio collar has been attached to the tigress, and she will be monitored round-the-clock using satellite-based telemetry and VHF antenna tracking units to ensure her safety and smooth integration into the wild ecosystem.

“Monitoring teams from STR, Chandoli National Park and WII are already deployed across strategic beats, vantage points, patrolling routes and water bodies,” it added.

According to officials, the key components for monitoring the tigress include satellite- and VHF-based real-time location tracking, field-patrol-based triangulation and direct sign verification, behavioural documentation (movement, resting sites, kill pattern, territory exploration), conflict-avoidance protocols with local communities, and veterinary response readiness.

The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, spread across about 740 square kilometres in the Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Ratnagiri districts of Maharashtra, includes Chandoli National Park, Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, and Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary.

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