Blog Details

Tigers Shifted From Pench National Park To Sahyadri

•  Adeeb Sahil
•  September 17, 2025

Pench National Park

Pench jungle safari

Tigers Shifted From Pench

A new wildlife project has started in Maharashtra. In this project, eight tigers are being moved from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve and Pench National Park to Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. Sahyadri has very few tigers now, so this step is being taken to improve the number. Experts and the government made a full plan for this. They studied the safety and method of moving the tigers. This step will help bring back tigers to Sahyadri and improve wildlife and nature in western Maharashtra.

Details Of Approval

The approval for this tiger movement came from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC). A letter about this project was sent by Dr. Surbhi Rai, who is the Deputy Director General (Wildlife). The letter was sent to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests in Maharashtra. This official communication gave the state permission to go ahead with the plan.

However, the approval was not given without conditions. The ministry has made it clear that if, at any point, the shifting of tigers causes danger or harm to the animals, the permission will be checked again. If needed, the approval can be stopped. This shows that the safety & health of the tigers are the first priority. No part of the project is allowed to put the animals at risk.

The government has asked the forest department to make sure that all scientific methods, medical care, & monitoring are done properly. This way, the animals will not face too much stress during the shift, & they will get a safe chance to adjust to their new home in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.

Translocation Plan

The plan for this project is very clear. A total of eight tigers will be shifted. Among these eight, there will be three male tigers and five female tigers. The shifting will not happen all at once. It will happen in steps.

The first step will bring two female tigers to Sahyadri. These two females will be kept under close watch. Their health, eating habits, and movement will be studied carefully. If they adjust well to the new forest & do not face any serious issues, then more tigers will be moved later.

After the first step is successful, the other six tigers will be moved in small groups. In this way, the forest department will avoid sudden changes in Sahyadri’s ecosystem. Monitoring cameras, tracking collars, and daily checks by forest guards will be used. This system will help to know if the tigers are safe, if they are hunting properly, & if they are adjusting to the new forest.

Every part of this plan is being done under rules made by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). These rules are standard for tiger movements in India. This ensures that the tigers are safe and the process is professional.

Why Translocation Was Needed

The latest tiger count was done in 2022. This census showed a worrying result. Sahyadri Tiger Reserve had almost no tigers left. Without immediate help, this forest was close to losing its status as a tiger reserve. A forest without tigers cannot be called a tiger reserve in the long run.

Because of this problem, a detailed proposal was written by the forest department of Maharashtra. This proposal was sent to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The NTCA studied the plan, asked for changes, and, after several corrections, finally approved the project.

The main goal is to bring back tigers to the Sahyadri & make the population stable. This will also improve biodiversity because when tigers are present, the balance of the food chain in the forest is maintained. Herbivores, smaller carnivores, plants, and other species all stay balanced when a top predator like the tiger is part of the system.

About Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR)

Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is a tiger reserve in western Maharashtra. It is located in Satara, Sangli, Ratnagiri, and Kolhapur districts. The total area is 1165.57 sq. km, with 600.12 sq. km as the core and 565.45 sq. km as the buffer zone.

It includes Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and Chandoli National Park, and connects with Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary. Sahyadri is home to many plants and animals, so the government wants tigers to live here again for a better balance.

Flora And Fauna In STR

The biodiversity of the Sahyadri is very impressive. The forest has 1452 species of trees & 400 species of medicinal plants. There are 33 mammals, 244 types of birds, 120 butterflies, 22 amphibians, 44 reptiles, and 50 freshwater fish species.

One special group of plants here is the Ceropegia genus. Around 24 species of this genus grow in the Sahyadri, and 10 of them are only found here (endemic species).

Sahyadri is also important for bird life. It is home to four species of hornbills. It is also one of the breeding grounds for the Indian River Tern. These details show that the Sahyadri forest is not only about tigers but also about many different living species that depend on this habitat.

Performance Ranking Of STR

Sahyadri Tiger Reserve has shown progress in recent years. In 2010, 2014, and 2018, it was rated as “Fair” or “Good.” In 2018, it stood at 37th place, but now it has improved to 27th out of 51 tiger reserves.

It is now in the “Very Good” category. This improvement is due to better forest management. With tiger relocation, its rank may improve more in the future.

About Pench National Park And Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve

Pench National Park is one of the most famous tiger reserves in India. It is located in both Maharashtra & Madhya Pradesh. The park is known for its strong tiger population and good forest management. Many visitors make bookings for Pench jungle safaris. They can see tigers, leopards, wild dogs, deer, & many bird species on Pench jungle safaris. Because Pench has a stable number of tigers, it was chosen as one of the sources for the Sahyadri project.

Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is another important tiger home in Maharashtra. It is located in the Chandrapur district. Tadoba is one of the oldest & best-protected tiger reserves in the country. Like Pench, it has a healthy tiger population. That is why it was also selected as a donor reserve for moving tigers to Sahyadri.

Both Pench National Park and Tadoba National Park are strongholds of tigers in central India. By sending a few tigers from here, the balance in Sahyadri can be restored. The number of tigers in Pench & Tadoba is stable enough to support such a transfer without causing problems for their own ecosystems.