A major milestone in Raj tiger rewilding

Jaipur: Rajasthan’s first scientific tiger rewilding project is set to achieve a major milestone after a rehabilitated male tiger, codenamed RVT-7, was fitted with a radio collar ahead of its planned release into the wild at Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR).

The radio-collaring exercise was carried out Sunday at the reserve’s rewilding enclosure under the supervision of forest department officials and wildlife experts.

“The tiger is expected to be released into its natural habitat within the next five to seven days after close monitoring of its health and behaviour,” a senior forest official said.

A team of wildlife experts tranquillised the tiger Sunday evening and fitted it with a radio collar. “A detailed health examination was conducted, biological samples were collected and veterinarians assessed its physical condition before the animal was successfully revived,” the official added.

RVT-7 is a male cub of Ranthambore tigress T-114. Following the tigress’s death, two orphaned cubs aged around two to three months at the time were rescued and shifted to Abheda Biological Park in Kota. There, they underwent nearly 22 months of scientific rehabilitation and rewilding training aimed at developing natural hunting instincts while minimising human contact.

“On Dec 5, 2024, the male cub was shifted to a five-hectare rewilding enclosure in the Ramgarh Mahal area of RVTR and assigned the code RVT-7. Over the past year-and-a-half, the tiger was provided natural prey such as Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai and wild boar to help it develop the hunting skills required for survival in the wild,” the official said.

“The female tigress, a sibling of this tiger, was shifted to Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota and has already adapted to living in the wild. Once RVT-7 is released, the rewilding project will be successfully completed,” the official added.