Empirical evidence of Tiger Panthera tigris (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) dispersal towards south from Similipal Tiger Reserve to Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary: potential implications for its conservation in the Greater Similipal Landscape

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Published: Jun 26, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8949.16.6.25299-25304
Keywords:
Eastern Ghats Landscape, east-central tiger population, functional corridor, habitat integrity, Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, human-tiger conflict mitigation, melanistic tiger population, metapopulation dynamics, prey recovery, systematic camera-trapping

Main Article Content

Harshvardhan Singh Rathore
Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun Uttarakhand 248001, India.
Jagyandatt Pati
Odisha Forest Department, PCCF Office, 8R69+QQF, Maitri Vihar, Nalco Nagar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3852-7396
Samrat Gowda
Odisha Forest Department, PCCF Office, 8R69+QQF, Maitri Vihar, Nalco Nagar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.
D.N. Sai Kiran
Odisha Forest Department, PCCF Office, 8R69+QQF, Maitri Vihar, Nalco Nagar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.
M. Yogajayananda
Odisha Forest Department, PCCF Office, 8R69+QQF, Maitri Vihar, Nalco Nagar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.
Yadvendradev V. Jhala
Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun Uttarakhand 248001, India.
Manoj V. Nair
Odisha Forest Department, PCCF Office, 8R69+QQF, Maitri Vihar, Nalco Nagar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.
Bivash Pandav
Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun Uttarakhand 248001, India.
Samrat Mondol
Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun Uttarakhand 248001, India.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3034-9396

Abstract

India has achieved a rare global conservation success by doubling its Tiger Panthera tigris number since 2006. However, in India’s east-central states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand the tiger numbers are declining. The tiger population in Odisha is largely confined to Similipal Tiger Reserve which represents the only known breeding population of a genetically unique wild melanistic form. We report a first empirically confirmed tiger dispersal event towards the south between Similipal Tiger Reserve and adjacent Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary as part of our intensive monitoring exercise conducted from 2019–2022. This evidence-based dispersal event confirms tiger presence in Kuldiha after 11 recent years and urges strong support for tiger conservation in the Greater Similipal Landscape. In order to ensure long-term tiger presence in this landscape, we suggest more rigorous management interventions like habitat restoration and management, prey recovery, intensive protection measures, conflict management, and creation of inviolate space.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 16 No. 6 (2024)
Section
Articles
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Author Biographies

Harshvardhan Singh Rathore, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun Uttarakhand 248001, India.

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Jagyandatt Pati, Odisha Forest Department, PCCF Office, 8R69+QQF, Maitri Vihar, Nalco Nagar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.

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Samrat Gowda, Odisha Forest Department, PCCF Office, 8R69+QQF, Maitri Vihar, Nalco Nagar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.

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D.N. Sai Kiran, Odisha Forest Department, PCCF Office, 8R69+QQF, Maitri Vihar, Nalco Nagar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.

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M. Yogajayananda, Odisha Forest Department, PCCF Office, 8R69+QQF, Maitri Vihar, Nalco Nagar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.

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Yadvendradev V. Jhala, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun Uttarakhand 248001, India.

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Manoj V. Nair, Odisha Forest Department, PCCF Office, 8R69+QQF, Maitri Vihar, Nalco Nagar, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751023, India.

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Bivash Pandav, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun Uttarakhand 248001, India.

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Samrat Mondol, Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun Uttarakhand 248001, India.

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