From Empty Forest to a Global Success Story: How Sariska in Rajasthan Showed the Way for Tiger Revival
Alwar: Eighteen years after becoming the world's first successful site for tiger reintroduction, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan has emerged as a model for wildlife conservation. Experts from across the country have gathered here to discuss how this success can be replicated elsewhere.
A two-day national workshop titled "Tiger Reintroduction: Opportunities and Challenges" was inaugurated by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav. Senior forest officials, wildlife scientists, and conservationists participated in the event, which was jointly organized by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and the Government of Rajasthan.
Addressing the gathering, Yadav stated that Sariska's remarkable transformation—from a reserve devoid of tigers to one with a thriving population—is the result of scientific management, rigorous monitoring, and sustained habitat protection. He noted that while every tiger reserve faces unique challenges, the experience gained at Sariska offers valuable insights for regions with low tiger populations.
Rajasthan's Forest and Environment Minister, Sanjay Sharma, highlighted that the reserve's tiger population has risen from zero to 56 and is expected to reach 60 soon. He commended local communities for their pivotal role in conservation and sought approval from the Centre for a cheetah project in the state.
During the workshop, experts deliberated on habitat restoration, increasing prey availability, wildlife corridors, scientific translocation methods, and community participation. They also emphasized that protecting tigers contributes to the conservation of the entire forest ecosystem.
India is now home to approximately 3,682 wild tigers across 58 tiger reserves, accounting for about 70 percent of the global tiger population. Recommendations from the workshop will be used to formulate a scientific roadmap for reviving tiger populations in reserves where numbers are low or the species has been completely wiped out.