Alwar:The growing population of tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve here in Rajasthan is pushing big cats to roam into new territories. These territories include the forests of Haryanas' Jhabua forest area. Two tigers from Sariska, ST-24 and ST-2305, have crossed the Ajabgarh Range and settled in Jhabua forest.
According to the forest officials, the reserve currently houses 42 tigers, including 10 males, 14 females and 18 cubs. The recent births of 13 cubs between March and June 2024 have increased the tiger population. Each young tiger typically requires around 50 square kilometers, but with 29 villages still inside or near the reserve, space for the big cats is shrinking.
“Tiger ST-24 has been in Ramgarh for over two years, while ST-2305 arrived recently,” said Sangram Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) at Sariska Tiger Reserve. “Both tigers are being closely monitored by forest teams.”
Forest officials have installed camera traps to track the movements of tigers. On December 1, fresh pug marks and photographs confirmed the presence of ST-2305 near Kichlpuri in Jhabua forest area. The monitoring team is coordinating with Sariska authorities to ensure the safety of the tigers and the local population as well.