The Disappearance of Tigers in Ranthambore National Park: Understanding the Causes | Jaipur News – Times of India

Young males may have been exposed to threats from local communities, forest dept says

JAIPUR: Tigers may be disappearing from Ranthambore National Park (RNP) due to a complex mix of natural aging, territorial disputes and human-related threats, according to wildlife experts.
Recently, Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) Pavan Kumar Upadhyay issued an order regarding 25 tigers missing from the park. After a committee was set up, 10 of the wildcats were traced within three days. Dharmendra Khandal, a conservation biologist with Tiger Watch, noted that among the remaining 15 missing tigers, territorial conflicts and human threats appear to be significant factors, particularly in cases of four young male tigers and one female, identified as T128, T131, T138, T139 and T2401.
The forst department’s report reads, “According to a detailed analysis by the forest department, these younger males were frequently observed roaming in search of unclaimed territories. Territorial disputes with dominant males could very well be the cause of their disappearance. However, human-related factors must also be considered. These young males may have been exposed to threats from local communities, such as poisoning or other man-made risks.”
Additionally, five older tigers—T3, T13, T38, T41 and T48—are believed to have died of natural causes due to their advanced age, ranging from 18 to 19 years. The report reads, “Tigers typically live up to around 15 years, making survival beyond that age increasingly difficult. While it is remarkable that these tigers survived in Ranthambore for so long, once they passed the age of 15, they faced immense challenges. Their breeding ceased and they struggled to maintain their health and territories in the face of mounting competition from younger, dominant tigers.”
The report also mentions that tigers T54 and T63, both 13 to 14 years old, are nearing the end of their natural lifespan, while T74, also around 13 years of age, may have been displaced by dominant tigers T121 and T112.
Tigress T63 , who gave birth to cubs three times, has been declared as near age of death by forest officers in Audi Kho area.