Sariska Tiger Reserve-Rise in Tigers

Context:

The Habitat management was launched in Sariska Tiger Reserve around June 2020. This has increased the number of tigers in the region. The tiger population in the reserve has increased to 25. Under habitat management, water holes and grasslands were developed.

Other recent changes:

New routes have been opened for the tourists. The routes were opened in the buffer zone of the tiger reserve. It is near Alwar town.

A private organization is delivering required goods and resources as a part of its corporate social responsibility expenditure. Using these CSR funds, earthen bunds, water holes and grasslands have been developed at ten different locations.

Tigers were relocated to Sariska:

In 2008, tigers were relocated from Ranthambore National Park. The tigers in Ranthambore are at a risk of becoming extinct. According to National Tiger Conservation Authority, Ranthambore is the only source of tigers in the Ranthambore – Mukundara – Kuno – Shivpuri – Madhav landscape.

Why are tigers becoming extinct in Ranthambore National Park?

Because here the tigers are inbred. Inbreeding deteriorates the health of the tigers generation after generation. Also, the tigers are declining due to purging. The inbred population have harmful genes circulating among them. This reduces their fitness.

The Forest Survey of India says that the forest cover in the Rathambore Tiger Reserve has decreased. The total area of the tiger reserve has decreased by 44.57 square kilometres. The forests are cleared for agriculture.

What is inbreeding depression?

Inbreeding is breeding closely related animals for many generations. Here mating of individuals closely related through common ancestry occurs.

Sariska Tiger Reserve:

It is located in Alwar district of Rajasthan. It was made a tiger reserve in 1978. The rainfall received by the forest is around 700 millimeter per year. The forest types include tropical, tropical thorn, dry and deciduous.