Jharkhand

• 24 Feb 2025

Palamu Tiger Reserve

Why in News? 

Officials in Jharkhand are bringing back the tiger of Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) that wandered into the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary in Jharkhand and West Bengal’s Purulia. 

 Key Points 

• Proposal for Relocation: 
  • PTR officials have prepared a proposal for relocating the tiger and sent it to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). 
  • Upon receiving approval, the tiger will be tranquilized and brought back to the PTR area. 
  • A team from the Wildlife Institute in Delhi will be present to oversee the relocation process. 
• Threat to Villages: 
  • Since leaving PTR, the tiger has terrorized villagers in Jamshedpur and Purulia by preying on cattle. 
  • The presence of the tiger has caused fear among residents of 86 villages surrounding Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. 
• Challenges and Concerns: 
  • The tiger, currently trapped in Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, is starving and struggling to navigate the unfamiliar forest. 
  • The region’s hilly terrain and dense human population make the situation more complex. 
  • Experts fear that prolonged isolation and lack of food may lead the tiger into depression, prompting the forest department to take measures for its well-being. 

 National Tiger Conservation Authority(NTCA) 

• NTCA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. 
• It was established in 2005 following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force. 
• It was constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it. 

 Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary 

• Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary (Shelter) located in Jamshedpur is famous for elephants. Apart from this, barking deer, sloth bear and various reptile species are notable among other fauna found here. 
• This wildlife sanctuary with an area of 193.22 sq km is located in the catchment area of the Subarnarekha river. 
• It consists mainly of dry mixed deciduous forests with some dry peninsular sals. The main tree species here include Terminalia, Jamun, Dhaura, Kendu, Karam etc. 
• Eco-sensitive areas are the areas within 10 km around protected areas, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries which are notified under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. 

 Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) 

• Palamu Tiger Reserve was established in 1974 under Project Tiger. 
• It is the first such sanctuary in the world, where tiger census was done on the basis of footprint count. 
• 'Betla National Park' is situated in 226.32 sq km within the Palamu Tiger Reserve, spread over a total area of 1130 sq km in Latehar district of Jharkhand.