Overview

• A joint NTCA-WII report documents steep declines in chital, sambar and gaur numbers across India’s tiger reserves, linking the losses to rampant poaching and widespread habitat destruction.
• The 2023 Tiger Census data confirms tiger populations have dipped in Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha as prey shortages intensify.
• Conflict-driven killings tied to left-wing extremism and poverty-driven bushmeat hunting are undermining ungulate recovery in reserves such as Indravati.
• Researchers recommend on-site breeding of ungulates in predator-proof enclosures as a temporary fix but stress that restoring high-quality habitat is vital for sustained recovery.
• Border reserves like Namdapha and Kamlang face elevated poaching risks from cross-border hunting, while Assam’s sanctuaries require stronger enforcement and community engagement to rebuild prey stocks.