Why in News?
Recent instances of Royal Bengal Tigers travelling 600–2000 km across multiple States highlight the phenomenon of long-distance dispersal and its implications for wildlife conservation.
Description:
1. Taxonomy, Biology & Genetics:
- Scientific Name: Panthera tigris tigris.
- Unique Traits: Only big cat that is a strong swimmer; recorded up to 3,600m (Himalayas).
- Black Tigers: Pseudo-melanistic tigers due to mutation in Taqpep gene. Found only in Simlipal TR, Odisha.
- Status: Endangered (IUCN Red List); Schedule I (WPA 1972); Appendix I (CITES).
- Umbrella Species: Protecting tigers protects the entire ecosystem (Keystone role).
2. Population Statistics & Monitoring:
- Current Figures: India hosts ~75% of global wild tigers. Avg: 3,682 (2022 Census).
- Tiger State: Madhya Pradesh (785) leads, followed by Karnataka and Uttarakhand.
- Estimation: NTCA began the 6th All India Tiger Estimation (AITE-26) in Jan 2026.
- Technology: M-STrIPES (Software for monitoring); Camera Traps for unique stripe ID.
3. Tiger Dispersal & Movement Ecology:
- Concept: Dispersal is the movement from natal (birth) area to a new territory to prevent inbreeding.
- Source vs. Sink: * Source: High-density habitats (e.g., Kanha, Tadoba) producing surplus tigers.
- Sink: Areas that receive dispersers but may not yet sustain a breeding population.
- Corridors: 32 major identified corridors. Corridors are critical for Genetic Connectivity.
4. Challenges & Conservation Concepts:
- Territoriality: Males require 60–100 km²; high density in “Source” reserves leads to territorial infighting (a major cause of mortality in 2025).
- Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC): Dispersing tigers often cross human-dominated landscapes, leading to livestock depredation and retaliatory killings.
- Infrastructure: Linear projects (roads, railways) fragment corridors.
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