Context: Recently, a new prey and predator estimation in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra found the presence of 115 tigers and 151 leopards.
Key findings

• A new prey and predator estimation in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur district has found the presence of 115 tigers and 151 leopards inside the 1,727 sq km of the core and buffer areas of the reserve in 2019.
• The estimation was done as part of the ‘Long-term monitoring of tigers, co-predators and prey species in TATR’.
• Although the tiger numbers appear to be up as compared to 2018, the population density shows a decline from 5.51 to 5.23 per 100 sq km. This is because of coverage of more area this year.
• However, the overall tiger count in Chandrapur district alone is more than 200, which is about two-third of the total number of tigers in the state.

Methodology

• The tiger reserves are constituted on a core/buffer strategy.
• The Project Tiger aims to foster an exclusive tiger agenda in the core areas of tiger reserves, with an inclusive people oriented agenda in the buffer.
• The core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary, whereas the buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, managed as a multiple use area.
• The tiger numbers appear to be up but the population density shows a decline
• Population Density represents the number of animals residing in per unit area.

About Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve

• It is located in Chandrapur district in Maharashtra.
• It is Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park.
• It is one of India's 50 "Project Tiger" reserves.
• Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve was established as the second Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra in 1993-94.
• The first Tiger Reserve established in the State is Melghat Tiger Reserve (1973-74).
• It represents Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Teak Forests in the Tiger habitat and has a viable tiger population