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Prey Shortages Threaten Tiger Recovery in Key Indian Reserves

Poaching, habitat degradation, conflict-driven killings are eroding chital, sambar, gaur populations crucial to tiger survival in several reserves.

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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.