25 Tigers Missing from Ranthambore National Park, Investigation Launched
Twenty-five tigers have gone missing from Ranthambore National Park, sparking a government investigation. Wildlife authorities are looking into potential monitoring lapses and overcrowding issues contributing to the disappearances.
Tigers
Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, famous for its majestic tigers, is grappling with a troubling issue. 25 of the park's 75 tigers have gone missing over the past year—an alarming increase from the 13 tigers reported missing between January 2019 and January 2022. This marks the highest number of tiger disappearances in a single year.
In response, the state’s wildlife department has set up a three-member committee tasked with investigating the disappearances. The committee will review monitoring data to identify any potential lapses by park staff. The focus of the investigation is on 14 tigers that have not been seen since May to September of this year.
A government order issued on November 4 raised concerns about the ongoing issue of missing tigers, noting that, despite repeated reminders to the park's field director, little progress has been made. As of mid-October 2024, 11 tigers have been missing for over a year, and 14 others have shown very little activity on monitoring devices.
Pavan Kumar Upadhyay, Chief Wildlife Warden, emphasised the seriousness of the situation, stating, "We have identified some monitoring gaps that need to be addressed. I have started collecting weekly reports, which show that these tigers are not being recorded on trap cameras." The committee is expected to submit its findings within two months.
Efforts have been made to reduce stress on the park's resources, including the relocation of villages from the buffer zone. However, progress has been slow, with the last successful relocation occurring in 2016.
The park's tiger population is another contributing factor to the issue. Spanning 900 square kilometres, Ranthambore currently hosts 75 tigers, including cubs and younger individuals. This number far exceeds the safe capacity of around 40 adult tigers, as estimated by a Wildlife Institute of India study conducted between 2006 and 2014. The overcrowding leads to intense territorial disputes among the tigers, adding to the challenges.
With the pressure mounting, park officials and wildlife authorities are under increasing scrutiny to improve monitoring systems and ensure better management practices to prevent further tiger disappearances.
