What Happened
- An adult Royal Bengal Tiger that travelled over 650 km from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra was spotted on National Highway 16 near Rajamahendravaram in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, on February 3, 2026.
- After killing livestock and being sighted near a school and residential areas, the tiger was tranquilised and captured on February 7 in Kurmapuram village, Rayavaram mandal, and shifted to the Animal Rescue Centre at Visakhapatnam zoo.
- Simultaneously, a second sub-adult male tiger, also believed to be from the Tadoba-Chandrapur region, is being tracked in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district of Telangana after moving through Adilabad, Mulugu, Karimnagar, and Jagityal districts.
- Experts noted that both tigers are likely seeking new territories and mates, and that such long-distance dispersals are well documented -- a tiger from Brahmapuri traversed 2,000 km across four states to Rayagada in Odisha in 2023.
- Officials warned that without adequate monitoring and corridor protection, tiger dispersals through non-forest areas may fuel human-animal conflict.
Static Topic Bridges
Tiger Dispersal and Wildlife Corridors
Tiger dispersal is a natural ecological process in which sub-adult tigers, particularly males, leave their natal area to establish independent territories. This behaviour is critical for maintaining genetic diversity and colonising new habitats, but it becomes problematic when corridors are fragmented.
- A study of 29 tiger cubs in Ranthambhore (2005-2011) found males had a 92.3% probability of dispersal versus 36.4% for females; males dispersed 4.5-148 km, females 4.6-25.8 km
- India has identified 32 major tiger corridors connecting its 58 tiger reserves; many are narrow and degraded
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have delineated minimal habitat corridors for landscape-scale conservation
- Long-distance dispersals over 600 km are increasingly documented, reflecting both rising tiger populations in source reserves and shrinking connective habitat
Connection to this news: The two tigers that crossed from Maharashtra into Telangana and Andhra Pradesh exemplify how rising tiger density in source reserves like Tadoba pushes sub-adults into long-distance dispersals through fragmented or non-existent corridors, increasing the risk of human-tiger encounters.
All India Tiger Estimation and Project Tiger
Project Tiger, launched in 1973, is India's flagship tiger conservation programme administered by the NTCA under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) is conducted every four years to assess tiger population, distribution, and habitat status.
- The 2022 AITE estimated India's tiger population at 3,682 (range: 3,167-3,925), up from 2,967 in 2018
- India hosts approximately 75% of the world's wild tigers across 58 tiger reserves
- The next census cycle (sixth cycle) began in late 2025 and will conclude in 2026-27
- Maharashtra's Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, from where both tigers originated, has seen significant population growth, leading to territorial saturation and outward dispersal
Connection to this news: The success of Project Tiger in increasing tiger numbers at reserves like Tadoba has created a new conservation challenge -- territorial saturation that forces young tigers into long-distance dispersals through human-dominated landscapes, as seen in this incident.
Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Framework
Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) occurs when wildlife causes damage to human life, livelihoods, or property, or when humans encroach upon wildlife habitats. India's approach to HWC mitigation involves early warning systems, rapid response teams, compensation mechanisms, and habitat management.
- The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (amended in 2022) provides the legal framework for wildlife conservation and conflict management
- NTCA guidelines mandate that each tiger reserve maintain a Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP) addressing core, buffer, and corridor habitats
- Compensation for livestock loss varies by state; Andhra Pradesh and Telangana provide ex gratia payments for livestock killed by wild animals
- Tranquilisation and capture are used as last-resort interventions when animals pose immediate danger to human populations
Connection to this news: The capture of one tiger near Rajamahendravaram and the ongoing tracking of another in Telangana demonstrate the operational challenges of managing dispersing tigers in states that lack established tiger reserves and trained response infrastructure.
Key Facts & Data
- India's tiger population (2022 estimate): 3,682; approximately 75% of the world's wild tigers
- India has 58 tiger reserves managed under Project Tiger (launched 1973)
- Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district is one of India's most densely populated tiger reserves
- Tiger 1 (Andhra Pradesh): Travelled over 650 km from Tadoba; tranquilised in East Godavari on February 7
- Tiger 2 (Telangana): Sub-adult male tracked through Adilabad, Mulugu, Karimnagar, Jagityal, and Yadadri Bhuvanagiri districts
- In 2023, a tiger from Maharashtra's Brahmapuri dispersed approximately 2,000 km across four states to Odisha
- Male tigers disperse further (up to 148 km from birth area) with higher probability (92.3%) than females (36.4%)