November 6, 2024: In a concerning development for wildlife conservation, nearly a third of the tigers in Rajasthan's famed Ranthambore National Park (RNP) are missing, prompting an investigation by the state’s wildlife authorities.
According to Pavan Kumar Upadhyay, Rajasthan's Chief Wildlife Warden, 25 of the park’s 75 tigers have gone unaccounted for over the past year, marking the highest number of disappearances in a single year since monitoring began. This new figure is significantly higher than the 13 tigers reported missing between January 2019 and January 2022.
Ranthambore, one of India’s most prominent tiger reserves, has long been a sanctuary for the endangered species, but officials are now concerned about the park's ability to support such a large population. The park, which spans 900 square kilometers, is home to not only adult tigers but also cubs and younger tigers, creating increasing competition for territory and resources.
On Monday, the Rajasthan Wildlife Department announced the formation of a three-member committee tasked with investigating the disappearances. The committee will review monitoring records, analyze the park’s management, and recommend any necessary actions. The investigation will focus on 14 tigers that have not been seen since between May 17 and September 30 of this year.
An official order issued on November 4 cited repeated reports from monitoring assessments that highlighted the missing tigers. It stated that despite numerous notices sent to the park’s field director, no significant improvements in monitoring or management have been observed. According to a report from October 14, 2024, 11 tigers had been missing for over a year, and there was limited recent evidence of another 14.
"The inquiry committee has been set up to ensure accountability and transparency. We need to understand what is happening on the ground and identify any lapses in monitoring," Upadhyay said. "Our goal is to find the missing tigers and take necessary steps to prevent further losses."
The Chief Wildlife Warden also noted that recent monitoring efforts, including the use of trap cameras, had shown no evidence of the missing tigers, raising concerns about possible gaps in the park’s surveillance systems. To address these concerns, Upadhyay confirmed that weekly monitoring reports were being collected, and a detailed investigation was underway.
The situation in Ranthambore is further complicated by overcrowding. With 75 tigers in a park that has limited space and resources, territorial disputes and fights among tigers have become more frequent. Efforts to reduce the pressure on the park by relocating villages from the buffer zone have been slow, with the last relocation occurring in 2016.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
A Third of Ranthambore's Tigers Missing: Investigation Launched
November 6, 2024: In a concerning development for wildlife conservation, nearly a third of the tigers in Rajasthan's famed Ranthambore National Park (RNP) are missing, prompting an investigation by the state’s wildlife authorities.
According to Pavan Kumar Upadhyay, Rajasthan's Chief Wildlife Warden, 25 of the park’s 75 tigers have gone unaccounted for over the past year, marking the highest number of disappearances in a single year since monitoring began. This new figure is significantly higher than the 13 tigers reported missing between January 2019 and January 2022.
Ranthambore, one of India’s most prominent tiger reserves, has long been a sanctuary for the endangered species, but officials are now concerned about the park's ability to support such a large population. The park, which spans 900 square kilometers, is home to not only adult tigers but also cubs and younger tigers, creating increasing competition for territory and resources.
On Monday, the Rajasthan Wildlife Department announced the formation of a three-member committee tasked with investigating the disappearances. The committee will review monitoring records, analyze the park’s management, and recommend any necessary actions. The investigation will focus on 14 tigers that have not been seen since between May 17 and September 30 of this year.
An official order issued on November 4 cited repeated reports from monitoring assessments that highlighted the missing tigers. It stated that despite numerous notices sent to the park’s field director, no significant improvements in monitoring or management have been observed. According to a report from October 14, 2024, 11 tigers had been missing for over a year, and there was limited recent evidence of another 14.
"The inquiry committee has been set up to ensure accountability and transparency. We need to understand what is happening on the ground and identify any lapses in monitoring," Upadhyay said. "Our goal is to find the missing tigers and take necessary steps to prevent further losses."
The Chief Wildlife Warden also noted that recent monitoring efforts, including the use of trap cameras, had shown no evidence of the missing tigers, raising concerns about possible gaps in the park’s surveillance systems. To address these concerns, Upadhyay confirmed that weekly monitoring reports were being collected, and a detailed investigation was underway.
The situation in Ranthambore is further complicated by overcrowding. With 75 tigers in a park that has limited space and resources, territorial disputes and fights among tigers have become more frequent. Efforts to reduce the pressure on the park by relocating villages from the buffer zone have been slow, with the last relocation occurring in 2016.