Gujarat is preparing to strengthen its tiger population through a special wildlife conservation initiative under which two tigresses from Madhya Pradesh will soon be released in the forests of Dahod.
The project aims to support the long-term settlement of tigers in the region and help increase their population naturally.
The initiative is being implemented by the Gujarat Forest Department in coordination with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The move follows the successful settlement of a male tiger from Madhya Pradesh in the Dahod forest area, raising hopes of establishing a stable tiger population in the region.
As part of the preparations, teams from the NTCA and the Tiger Cell of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, visited Dahod in April and conducted a three-day training programme for local forest officials. The training covered tiger conservation, monitoring methods, protection measures and techniques for identifying male and female tigers through paw prints.
Forest authorities have also stepped up surveillance in the area. Fourteen night-vision cameras have been installed in the Sagatala forest range to monitor tiger movement and ensure the safety of the animal already living in the region.
According to forest department sources, the tiger has mainly been spotted in the Kajeta and Sagatala forest ranges of Dahod.
Officials hope that after the release of the two tigresses, the animals will breed naturally and help establish a permanent tiger population in the area.
Wildlife experts believe the project could improve biodiversity in Gujarat and may also boost eco-tourism opportunities in the future.