Chhattisgarh: Tigress Spotted in Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve After a Decade
Gariaband: Wildlife conservation efforts have achieved a major breakthrough with the confirmed presence of a tigress in Chhattisgarh's Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR). Camera traps have recorded the tigress's regular movements.
According to the Forest Department, analysis of photos and videos obtained from various locations over the past month confirms that a single tigress is roaming the area. Her movements and tendency to mark territory indicate that she is attempting to establish a permanent home range here.
No permanent tiger presence had been recorded in Udanti-Sitanadi—declared a tiger reserve in 2009—for the past decade. Consequently, the arrival of the tigress is considered a significant milestone for the reserve.
The Forest Department stated that several conservation measures have been implemented over the last five years, including anti-poaching drives, drone surveillance, the creation of artificial water sources, forest area restoration, and efforts to boost the population of prey species.
A special task force has been constituted to ensure the tigress's safety, and patrolling has been intensified. Local villagers have also been integrated into the monitoring system.
The Forest Department remarked that the tigress's presence signals positive results from conservation efforts, and ensuring her safety remains the department's top priority.
The Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, spanning the Gariaband and Dhamtari districts of Chhattisgarh, covers an area of 1,842 square kilometers. Established in 2009, this reserve was formed by merging the Udanti and Sitanadi wildlife sanctuaries. It is renowned for the conservation of endangered Asiatic wild buffaloes and offers spectacular natural landscapes shaped by the Mahanadi, Udanti, and Sitanadi rivers.