Kawal Tiger Reserve can support 35-plus tigers, says new study

A new study finds Kawal Tiger Reserve has enough prey to support over 35 tigers but lacks a breeding population. Experts stress the need for wildlife corridors, reduced human conflict, and possible assisted tiger dispersal for successful conservation.

Hyderabad: A new study titled “Could prey support the recovery of a tiger population? Long-term prey density and carrying capacity assessment of a tiger reserve in India,” published in Oryx — The International Journal of Conservation, finds that Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana, holds sufficient prey to support a population of over 35 tigers, but that restoring tigers to the reserve will require addressing connectivity and human-wildlife conflict as much as ecological recovery.

This study was led by Imran Siddiqui (Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bangalore, and Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society) and co-authored by Nilanjan Basu (Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society), Dr Kathan Bandyopadhyay (Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming), Dr John L Koprowski (School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona), and Dr Venkatesh Angandhula (Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society).

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Despite being designated a tiger reserve in 2012, Kawal currently has no resident breeding tiger population. Over the past decade, 15 tigers have dispersed into the reserve from a nearby source population in Maharashtra. But, only two of these were females, making the establishment of a breeding population extremely unlikely without intervention.

Using long-term distance sampling data collected between 2010 and 2022, the authors tracked the density trends of five prey species. Chital populations increased over this period, while sambar, nilgai, and chousingha remained stable, and wild pig populations fluctuated. Applying prey abundance and prey biomass models, the researchers estimated that the reserve’s core area could support approximately 35–41 tigers based on current prey availability.

Imran Siddiqui, lead author of this study, says, “For landscapes like Kawal, success hinges on restoring functional prey bases, securing connectivity for dispersing tigers, and building trust and co-existence with local communities.”

The study identifies fragmented landscapes, highways, railway networks, open-cast mines, and dense human settlements as key barriers to tiger movement between Kawal and neighbouring source populations such as Tadoba–Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra.

Preliminary tiger monitoring data from 2019 to 2025 suggest tigers are moving towards Kawal through multiple corridors, but dispersal is frequently hindered by infrastructure and conflict. The authors recommend that corridors, particularly through Kagaznagar Forest Division, be equipped with wildlife overpasses or underpasses to facilitate tiger movement.

The study also highlights the importance of community involvement in conservation. To achieve a target of 30-35 tigers in Kawal, the authors suggest that assisted dispersal of tigers, particularly females, under the guidance of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, may be necessary, alongside sustained long-term prey monitoring as a key ecological indicator for adaptive management.