Tigers are very protective towards their territories and they don’t like anyone’s interference in their territories. They even fight to the death to save their territories when it comes to the territory disputes with others or their own offspring. The rising population of tigers in various tiger reserves and sanctuaries such as Sariska Tiger Reserve, Ranthambore National Park, Corbett Park, etc. is triggering these territory disputes.
Recently, in a territory dispute between the tigers in the Sariska NP, a tiger has chased out his son from the core area of the tiger reserve zone. The population of tiger in the Sariska has taken a leap after relocating the tigers of Ranthambore National Park to this park. However, it is a matter of rejoicing for the wildlife lovers and the forest officials of the Sariska that this tiger reserve has remarkably made a comeback in tiger population.
Nearly a decade ago, Sariska has not a single tiger left in the park due to the heavy poaching activities. But, the tiger count has increased after the translocation of tigers in this park. But also, the increasing number of tigers fuels the turf war between the big cats. At present, there are around 14 tigers in the Sariska tiger reserve zone having the area of approximately 500 sq km as the core zone and around 300sq km as the buffer area.
The turf war that took place between ST-6 and ST-13, a father and son, has upheld the supremacy of father ST-6 over his son St-13, and St-6 made sure that St-13 stay away from the core area. Since the fight which took place a few months ago, Tiger ST-13 has been moving in the buffer areas only in the Rajgarh forest.
There have been several combined attempts has been made by the Sariska officials, experts of Wildlife Institute of India and the officials of Jaipur Zoo to tranquilize and bring ST-13 back to the core area or put a radio caller in its neck so that it can be effectively monitored in the buffer area but all the efforts were in vain.
According to the deputy conservator of the Sariska Mr. Balaji Kari, the officials are continually monitoring the tiger in the buffer zone that’s why Tiger is in no danger and also easily getting its prey in the territorial division of Alwar. He also said, “We tried to capture but failed as his movement downhill is usually at midnight. We have laid camera traps and a team of forest staff is on the task.”
A senior official of the forest department said, “A day before ST-13 ran away in November 2016, he was spotted with ST-6 in the Tehla area. We assume that they had a fight, and ST-13, born to ST-2, was pushed to the periphery.”
Normally, an adult tiger or tigress demarcates the area of 10-12 sq km to make their territory and don’t allow any rival to enter into their territory. If anyone enters, then a fight is inevitable between them to dominate the area and the stronger retains the area and the weaklier has to walk out of the territory.
