NTCA approves tiger reintroduction plan for Kawal Tiger Reserve

The National Tiger Conservation Authority has approved the reintroduction of tigers into Telangana's Kawal Tiger Reserve. Forest officials plan to relocate five tigers from Maharashtra after strengthening habitat conditions, aiming to revive the reserve's tiger population under the Centre's Vision 2047 roadmap.

Mancherial: In what can be termed good news for nature lovers and officials, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given its nod for the reintroduction of tigers and to enhance their population in Kawal Tiger Reserve (KTR), which has been struggling to attract tigers for quite a long time despite a slew of measures.

As per a report titled Roadmap for effective management of tigers in India, released jointly by the NTCA and Wildlife Institute of India, KTR has no resident tigers that can help increase the tiger population. The report highlighted that the reserve has been witnessing the migration of tigers from both Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve and Indravati Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra.

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Against this background, the NTCA, in its sustained efforts to revive the environment, has accorded permission to reintroduce tigers to the reserve in the first phase. KTR has been included in the list of crucial corridors identified by the Centre for the conservation of tigers. This is viewed as a strategic move to tap the potential of the reserve, cheering nature lovers and officials.

According to sources, Telangana forest officials have submitted a request to the NTCA seeking five tigers, including at least one tigress, ideally aged above two years, as such tigers tend to move independently and are more adaptable. They hope the tigers will establish families in Kawal.

As a preparatory measure, tribal families from Maisampet and Rampur villages in the core zone have already been relocated to facilitate the smooth settlement of the tigers. Forest officials also plan to strengthen prey availability, curb poaching and prevent encroachments before relocating tigers from Maharashtra to Kawal.

In 2025, a proposal titled Project Tiger, aimed at introducing tigers into Kawal, was submitted and got a positive response from Maharashtra. Following the approval of Maharashtra’s Chief Wildlife Warden, Telangana’s Chief Wildlife Warden Elusing Meru sent a formal request to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) seeking its nod for the initiative.

Meanwhile, officials said that, as part of the Vision 2047 road map devised by the Centre, proposals have already been prepared to increase the tiger population in Kawal.