Orphaned tiger cubs thrive in first state rewilding project

Jaipur: Two orphaned tiger cubs relocated from Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve are now thriving in the wild under the state's first rewilding project, on the verge of delivering successful results. Raised under expert supervision and released into monitored enclosures, the sub-adult tigers are showing strong signs of adapting to their natural habitats. Following approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the forest department undertook the project to raise and release the orphaned cubs back into the wild.

A forest official said the department rescued the cubs after their mother, Tigress T-114, died in Ranthambhore in Nov 2022. At the time, they were just two and a half months old. Officials brought them to Abheda Biological Park in Feb 2022, where they nurtured them for 22 months. In Dec 2024, they released the female into Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve and the male into Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, placing both into five-hectare enclosures within these tiger reserves. The tigress, designated MT-7, successfully made over 30 kills, while the male tiger in Ramgarh hunted 35 animals. As per rewilding protocols, both tigers will be considered for hard release into the open forest once they cross the benchmark of 50 kills.

A senior official said, "This will be the first rewilding project of tiger cubs in the state. The cubs are nearly 25 months old and will be released as per protocol."

The forest department has prior experience with orphaned cubs, although officials raised those animals in the wild rather than in captivity. A committee member recalled, "Both Tigresses T-15 and T-5 in Ranthambhore left behind two cubs each after their deaths. The forest department successfully raised them in the wild with enhanced monitoring. However, this project presents the new challenge of determining the right time to release these cubs from captivity into the complete wild."

Experts note that a cub is considered a sub-adult after 18 months of age, and under natural conditions, cubs separate from their mother between 18 and 22 months. A source said, "Though they should be released by now, we are waiting for a few more kills. The process was a bit delayed in releasing them from the biological park to the tiger reserve."