Bhubaneswar: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has ordered for suspension of the ongoing tiger translocation efforts in the Satakosia forest of Odisha. It has also decided to shift tiger Sundari back to Ghorela centre at Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh immediately. The tiger will be re-wilded for subsequent release in a suitable habitat. The NTCA has said that Odisha failed to ensure safe habitat to the two translocated tigers in Satkosia Tiger Reserve. One of the tiger had died due to poaching while the other one had to be caged due to protests from local people.
The NTCA had in 2018, as part of its efforts to increase tiger habitat, shifted two tigers – Mahaveer and Sundari, from the forests of Madhya Pradesh. The effort was the country’s first inter-State tiger translocation program.
The panel constituted by NTCA headed by Khageswar Nayak, retired CCF and ex-field director of the Kanha Tiger Reserve, to assess the tiger augmentation programme at Satakosia, found that Odisha failed to adhere to the laid down guidelines as well as the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
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