In a significant development for wildlife conservation, a six-year-old tigress, designated ST-19, has given birth to four cubs in the Bareli-Bari area of the buffer zone of Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar, Rajasthan. This marks her third litter, increasing her total offspring to nine. With the arrival of these new cubs, the tiger population in Sariska Tiger Reserve has risen to 49, signaling a significant achievement in the conservation efforts within the reserve.
This event is especially significant because it is the first time that four cubs are born at the same time in the buffer zone, which is already home to seven resident tigers. In the past, tigresses ST-12 and ST-22 also gave birth to four cubs each in the same year, suggesting that the tiger population in the reserve is growing in a favourable manner.
Rajasthan's Forest Minister, Sanjay Sharma, shared the news on social media, stating, "Good news from Sariska Tiger Reserve! Tigress ST-19 has been sighted with four healthy cubs for the first time. She is the third tigress in Sariska to give birth to four cubs in a span of one year. A promising sign for tiger conservation efforts in the region."
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The Sariska Tiger Reserve has a storied history in tiger conservation. After a period of zero tiger sightings in the early 2000s, the reserve became the site of India's first successful tiger relocation program. Over the past two decades, concerted efforts by the state forest department have led to a steady increase in the tiger population. Dinesh Durani Verma, founder of the Sariska Tiger Foundation, remarked, "From zero to a population about to touch 50 is a success story. The conservation efforts of the state forest department over two decades made it possible."
With the rise in tiger numbers, forest officials anticipate an increase in eco-tourism, as sightings in the reserve have become more frequent. However, they emphasize the importance of responsible tourism to ensure the continued well-being of the wildlife.
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