Three tigers have been moved to Sariska Tiger Reserve from the sanctuary area of Ranthambhore National Park in an effort to re-populate Sariska with big cats. But in their enthusiasm to materialise the tiger reintroduction mission, the wildlife officials seem to have forgotten that as per wildlife by-laws, it is not advisable to disturb the animals which have marked their territory. After a tiger and a tigress who had marked territories in Ranthambhore were shifted to Sariska, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had issued directions for relocating only transient tigers, but the wildlife officials could not do it.

Regarding the status of the second tigress relocated on Wednesday, the wildlife officials claim that she was a transient and kept roaming in and out of the sanctuary area. However, sources closely associated with the park maintain that the tigress had marked territory in the Guda range and was identified as T-18 tigress.

A forest guard said, "She is an offspring of a tigress known as Machhali, and had marked her territory in Guda range that falls on the border of the sanctuary."

With three tigers shifted and three more scheduled to be shifted, the core area of Ranthambhore Park faces a threat of becoming tiger-less, though gradually. As per wildlife experts, removing a tiger from his territory creates an ecological imbalance as a vacuum is created in the range.

Fateh Singh Rathore, former field director, Ranthambhore Park, said, "Disturbance irritates the animal and creates an imbalance in the territorial ranges. Trapping a territorial tiger is an easy task than trapping a transient tiger. Shifting tigers from their core areas is leading to disturbed territories which will result in fights between the shifted and the already residing tigers." He said that trapping transient tigers is not impossible but it needs certain expertise and patience. Desh Bandhu, a regular tiger watcher at Ranthambhore, said the shifted tigress belonged to Guda range and the claims of her being a transient one are not true.

NTCA member Rajesh Gopal said the condition of trapping a transient tiger was put after first two tigers were relocated from the core area. He, however, maintained the second tigress had not settled in the territory earlier.

Meanwhile, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday that nine tigers have died in and around forests across the country since the beginning of 2009.

Rashpal Bhardwaj/ DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication