PP size SOP 6 - Project Tiger active.pdf · potential sites for moving dispersing tigers from...

STANDARD OPERATING

PROCEDURE

NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY

TIGERSFROM SOURCEAREAS AT THELANDSCAPE LEVEL

FOR ACTIVE MANAGEMENT TOWARDSREHABILITATION OF

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR ACTIVE MANAGEMENT TOWARDS

REHABILITATION OF TIGERS FROM SOURCEAREAS AT THE LANDSCAPE LEVEL

NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST & CLIMATE CHANGE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

1.Title: Standard Operating Procedure foractive management towards rehabilitationof tigers from source areas at thelandscape level.

2. Subject: Active management towardsrehabilitation of tigers from source areasat the landscape level.

3. Reference: SOP of National TigerConservation Authority / Project Tiger todeal with straying tigers in humandominated landscapes and relatedadvisories on the subject.

4. Purpose: With the increase in tigernumbers in India, there will be severalareas where dispersing tigers will movethrough human dominated landscapesand at times result in human-tigerconflict. Conservation in such areas willnow be dependent on quick, timely andappropriate mitigation of these conflictsituations. Often tigers involved inconflict or tigers that come into humandominated landscapes may need to becaptured. If such tigers are not man-

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STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR ACTIVE MANAGEMENT TOWARDS REHABILITATION OF TIGERS FROM

SOURCE AREAS AT THE LANDSCAPE LEVEL

eaters then there is a possibility to releasethem back into the wild. However,capturing tigers and releasing them to thesource of their origin would not alwaysresolve the problem. Often, the mainreason for the dispersal of tigers is thehigh density of the source population. Itis important to relocate such tigers toareas of low tiger density (or no tigers buthave recorded tiger presence in thehistorical range), which have good habitatand prey populations. However, careneeds to be taken to ensure that suchrelocations are done within populationclusters that share a recent common genepool. Based on the current geneticknowledge and existing corridorconnectivity, we herein identify suchpopulation clusters within each landscapeand suggest areas that are suitable torelocate surplus tigers.

5. Short summary: This StandardOperating Procedure (SOP) provides thebasic criteria for Active managementtowards rehabilitation of tigers fromsource areas at the landscape level.



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6. Scope: The SOP applies to all tigerlandscapes / tiger reserves and tigerbearing forests.

7. Responsibilities: The Field Directorwould be responsible in the case of tigerreserves. For protected areas (NationalPark / Wildlife Sanctuary), the concernedprotected area manager would beresponsible. In the case of other areas(revenue land/conservation reserve/community reserve/village/township) theWildlife Warden, as per the Wildlife(Protection) Act, 1972, or DivisionalForest Officer/ Deputy Conservator ofForests (under whose jurisdiction the areafalls), would be responsible. The overallresponsibility at the State level would restwith the Chief Wildlife Warden of theconcerned State.

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Suggested field actions to deal withactive management towardsrehabilitation of tigers from source areasat the landscape level:

1. Shivalik Hills and Gangetic PlainsLandscape (map on page 08-09)

This landscape has high density sourcetiger populations like Corbett TR andother sources like Dudhwa NP, KishenpurWLS, Katerniaghat WLS and Pilibhit TR.Tiger presence is now almost continuousfrom the Ganges eastwards into Nepal.The only low-density tiger habitat withappropriate prey density to supportadditional tigers is the western part ofRajaji NP, which includes the ranges ofDholkhand (East & West), Kansrao,Haridwar, Motichur, Ramgarh, andChillawali. If tigers are relocated here,they are likely to breed and eventuallyspread into the Shivalik Forest division ofUttar Pradesh, and into Kalesar NationalPark of Haryana. The second option arethe forests of Suhelwa WLS, which



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currently require restorative inputs, so asto boost prey populations, and protectionmeasures to ensure that introduced tigersare not poached.

Valmiki TR maintains good connectivitywith the Chitwan NP in Nepal. Tigersdispersing from Valmiki TR should be putback into Valmiki as they have a largelandscape to disperse into on the Nepalside. Parts of Chitwan NP and Parsawildlife reserve have low tiger density andcan potentially accommodate dispersersfrom Valmiki TR. Valmiki tigers couldalso be translocated to Sohagibarwa WLS(after ensuring adequate protectionmeasures).

Turn over for Map representing tiger bearingareas and their tiger densities in the Shivalik hillsand Gangetic plains landscape (2013-14). Thehighlighted areas (in red) represent potentialareas for relocating tigers within this landscape

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2. Central Indian landscape

2.1 CI-Cluster I: Sariska TR,Ranthambore NP, Kailadevi WLS,Mukundara hills TR, Palpur-Kuno WLS,Madhav NP (map on page 11)

For the northwestern cluster of the centralIndian landscape, Ranthambore NP is theonly high-density source population. It iswell connected to low tiger density areaslike Kailadevi WLS, Palpur-Kuno WLSand Mukundara hills TR, which arepotential sites for moving dispersing tigersfrom Ranthambore NP. If tigers arerelocated here, then this will facilitate thepersistence of a healthy metapopulation inthe landscape.

Map representing tiger bearing areas and theirtiger densities in CG-Cluster I (2013-14). Thehighlighted areas (in red) represent potentialareas for relocating tigers within this landscape



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2.2 CI-Cluster II: Bandhavgarh TR, SanjayDubri TR, Guru Ghasidas NP, AchanakmarTR, Kanha TR, Pench TR, Melghat TR,Satpura TR, Tadoba-Andhari TR,Nawegaon-Nagzira TR, Bor TR, Kawal TR,Indravati TR, Udanti-Sitanadi TR,Palamau TR, Nauradehi WLS, Panna TR(map on page 13)

This cluster has several high-density sourcepopulations like Kanha TR, Pench TR,Tadoba-Andhari TR and Bandhavgarh TR.However, the connectivity in the intercedingareas is very poor. The dispersing tigers fromthese populations could be moved into lowtiger density areas of Sanjay Dubri TR,Guru Ghasidas NP, Achanakmar TR,Udanti-Sitanadi TR, Kawal TR, IndravatiTR, Palamau TR and Nauradehi WLS.However, appropriate protection measuresand prey base restoration needs to beaddressed at these sites. Other additionalsites where tigers from this central Indiancluster could be moved, are to the forests ofKhandwa, Dewas, Harda, Betul andBurhanpur. Map representing tiger bearing areas and theirtiger densities in CG-Cluster II (2013-14). Thehighlighted areas (in red) represent potentialareas for relocating tigers within this landscape

2.3 CG-Cluster III: Similipal TR andSatkosia TR

Similipal and Satkosia TRs represent alineage that produces melanistic tigers andare likely to be of a unique gene pool in thislandscape. We therefore, need to maintainthe genetic integrity of this landscape byrefraining from relocating tigers from otherareas of central India into this cluster. Thereis a vast area of suitable habitat in theseareas, which currently harbours very lowdensity of tigers. Any dispersing tiger out ofthese areas needs to be put back intoSimilipal and Satkosia TRs. However, theprey base, habitat and protection measuresneed to be improved and the reasons for themovement of the tigers need to beinspected. It may be relevant to commence aconservation breeding program for tigersfrom this cluster since their numbers arerapidly declining and this unique phenotypemay become extinct in the future.



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2.4 EG-Cluster I: Nagarjunsagar-SrisailamTR, Gundla Bramheshwaram WLS (map on page 16-17)

The only source population in this cluster isthe Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam TR, while thereare several protected areas with suitable preybase and habitat such as SriLankamalleswara WLS, Sri PenusilaNarasimha WLS and Sri Venkateswara NPin the Eastern Ghats, which currently donot have any tiger population. Forestcorridors connect Srisailam forests withthose of Siddavatam and Sri VenkateswaraNP, and by relocating tigers into SriVenkateswara NP, it will help expand tigeroccupied areas and create new sourcepopulations. Tigers from the above forestsare likely to disperse and occupySiddavatam, Kurnool, Prakasham andCuddappah forests as well. One majorconcern that needs to be addressed/studiedin these areas is the presence of appropriateprey base and relevant protection.

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3. Western Ghats Landscape complex

3.1 WG-Cluster I: Sahyadri TR, Protectedareas of Goa (Mhadei WLS, BhagawanMahavir (Mollem) NP, Netravali WLS,Cotigaon WLS), Dandeli-Anshi TR, BhadraTR, Bandipur TR, Nagarhole TR, BiligiriRanganatha Temple TR (BRT),Sathyamangalam TR and Mudumalai TR(map on page 20-21)

The Western Ghats landscape has severalhigh-density source populations likeBandipur TR, Nagarhole TR and BRT TRand the populations here are likely todisperse out in the near future.Repopulating these dispersing tigers tointervening low tiger density areas likeBhadra TR and Dandeli-Anshi TR willconnect these populations to other low-density areas like Sahyadri and Goa whereample tiger habitat exists but tigers are atlow density. This will also create acontiguous tiger population with ampleconnectivity, which is important for long-term survival of these populations. Followedby Bhadra TR and Dandeli-Anshi TR, the



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protected areas of Goa and Sahyadri TRform a viable option in this cluster to movedispersing tigers.

3.2 WG-Cluster II: Parambikulam TR,Anamalai TR, Periyar TR, Kalakad-Mundanthurai TR (KMTR)

The second cluster of the Western Ghatslandscape complex currently has low densityof tigers, and any dispersing tigers in thiscluster can be put back into their respectivetiger reserves and the reason for theirmovement into human dominatedlandscapes needs to be examined.

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4 Northeast hills and Brahmaputra floodplains (map on page 23)

4.1 NE-Cluster I: Kaziranga TR, ManasTR, Orang NP, Buxa TR, Nameri TR,Pakke TR, Dampa TR, Karbi Anglong hills,Gorumara NP and Jaldapara WLS, IntakiNP.

The source populations that currentlyproduce dispersing tigers within this clusterare Kaziranga and Orang TRs. Surplus wildtigers could be relocated into Manas TR,Buxa TR, Gorumara NP, Jaldapara WLS,Dampa TR, and the Karbi Anglong Hills.However, these areas need to ensureprotection for the introduced tigers.

4.2 NE-Cluster II: Namdapha TR andDibang WLS

Tiger populations from this extremelyeastern population cluster are likely to havetheir genetic affinity with tigers fromMyanmar. Tigers from this cluster should bemoved within this region only. Since this isa low tiger density area, conflicts withconspecifics are unlikely to occur.



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Map representing tiger bearingareas and their tiger densities inNE-Cluster I (2013-14). Thehighlighted areas (in red) repre-sent potential areas for relocatingtigers within this landscape

5 Sundarbans Landscape: (map on page 26)

The tiger population of the Sundarbans isphenotypically unique and specificallyadapted to life in the mangrove forests.Tigers dispersing out of this habitat need tobe restored either in the Sundarbans or inzoos. No tigers from any other clustershould be introduced into Sundarbans norshould tigers from Sundarbans beintroduced elsewhere. The recent tigerestimation (2014) has shown areas of lowdensity within the Sundarban BiosphereReserve. These maps can be used to guidefield managers in releasing capturedSundarban tigers back into the wild. Tigers that kill humans accidentally need tobe treated differently from those that havebecome man-eaters. Man-eaters need to beremoved immediately and should not bereintroduced into free ranging conditions.While tigers that have come into conflictsituations accidentally can be captured andreintroduced into vacant/ low-densityhabitats. Preferably, tigers that are releasedafter relocation should be equipped withsatellite telemetry collars so that they can be



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tracked remotely. Incase such tigers continueto be problem animals they should berecaptured and put in captivity oreliminated. Release into new area shouldpreferably be done by soft release protocol.Hard release should only be consideredwhen logistic constraints do not permit softrelease. The release site should have goodhabitat, prey density and protectionmeasures. Human density at the release siteshould be low and composed ofcommunities that have experience of livingwith large carnivores.

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Turn over for Map representing tiger bearingareas and their tiger densities in Sundarbans(2013-14). The highlighted areas (in red) repre-sent potential areas for relocating tigers withinthis landscape

NB:-

1. The identification of dispersing tigerand the procedure for translocation / drugdosage / transportation would be inaccordance with guidelines / SOP issuedearlier from NTCA / Project Tiger.

2. Adequacy of field protection / preybase should be ascertained at the new siteprior to translocation.

3. 'Soft' release of the tiger should bepreferred as a precautionary measure,which would necessitate the creation of anin-situ enclosure with natural prey at therelease site.

4. The translocated tiger should invariablyradio collared to facilitate closemonitoring after release.

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NOTES



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