Context: As per the latest Tiger Census (2022), the Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR) in Odisha does not have a single tiger. The state government of Odisha is keen on resuming its tiger reintroduction programme in STR.
However, this poses a looming threat of relocation for indigenous populations settled in the core, buffer and impact zone of the tiger reserve.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Satkosia Tiger Reserve; Tiger Reserve.
Satkosia Tiger Reserve:
- In 2007, the Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and Baisipali Sanctuary were combined to form the Satkosia Tiger Reserve (STR).
- Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary, established in 1976, covers over 795 sq. km spanning four districts of Odisha (Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, and Nayagarh).
- Baisipali Sanctuary was notified in the southern part of Nayagarh district in 1981.
- STR covers 1,136.70 sq. km with a core zone of 523.61 sq. km.
- Key features:
- STR has a unique biodiversity, as it is located at the meeting point of two biogeographic regions, the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats. Covered with marshes and evergreen forests.
- It has a 22.5 km long Satkosia gorge created by the Mahanadi river. It is designated a Ramsar site (wetland of international importance). It has over 400 plant species, 183 fish species and more than 200 species of birds.
- In 2007, the State government census recorded 12 tigers in STR, but by 2018-19, only one remained. The 2022 census found no tigers in STR.
Efforts to restore Tiger population in STR:
- To restore the tiger population, India’s first inter-State tiger relocation programme was launched in 2018.
- A male tiger was brought from the Kanha Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh and a tigress from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, MP.
- However, the effort of restoration did not succeed.
- Challenges:
- Prevalence of poaching.
- Resistance of villagers against:
- Potential rehabilitation (Four villages are located in the forest core, 131 villages in the buffer, and 234 villages in the impact zone of STR).
- Deforestation
- Threat of man-wildlife conflict.
The tiger reintroduction project must secure consent from locals and public representatives, with voluntary relocation of villages and proper financial compensation as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) norms.