Noida, UP -- (SBWire) -- 05/11/2010 -- In a major development to efforts to revive the tiger population in Madhya Pradesh's Panna reserve; a relocated tigress has given birth to three cubs. This is a first of its kind. And the good news comes exactly a year after Panna reserve http://www.panna-national-park.com/ was declared having no tiger population left. The tigress which has given birth was relocated from Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh) to Panna in March last year.
Making an official announcement, a park official said, “We have spotted three healthy cubs with the tigress brought from Bandhavgarh National Park on May 7. With this recent development the state government’s tiger rehabilitation plan in Panna has proved to be a great success”.
“The cubs are believed to be around 20 days old and were spotted when their mother was taking them out of her den. The tigress is in a fine condition. The cubs have opened their eyes. This usually happens after 10 days of birth”, said R. Sreenivasa Murthy, field director, Panna. “Though we had prior indications that the tigress has given birth last month, it could not be confirmed because she was hiding at a place which was difficult for us to reach. The news could be confirmed only when the tigress decided to move her cubs to a better place of the reserve”, he further elaborated.
Panna reserve http://www.indiawildliferesorts.com/national-parks/panna-national-park.html , which once had more than 30 big cats, lost its entire tiger population due to illegal poaching. In an attempt to rehabilitate tigers in Panna, two tigresses, one from Bandhavgarh National Park (Madhya Pradesh) and another from Kanha Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh), were relocated here on March 6 and March 9, 2009 respectively. A tiger from Pench reserve (Madhya Pradesh) was also relocated on November 14 the same year in Panna National Park.
“This relocated tiger had disappeared on November 26. However after much effort it was brought back to Panna on December 25. Thereafter, the tiger has settled comfortably in the new environs of Panna reserve which is evident from the birth of the three cubs”, an official said.
“It is for the first time that a relocated tigress has given birth in India”, said Mr. Murthy. In the year 2008, two tigresses and a tiger were relocated to Sariska in Rajasthan, after it lost its tiger population. These animals have not yet been able to breed. It was reported that these tigers which were brought from Ranthambhor National Park, could have been siblings.
In some more good news from Panna reserve, officials are anticipating that the second relocated tigress could also be expecting very soon. Due to this security in and around the park has been beefed up. Entry of tourists has been banned keeping in mind the safety of the tigers. Panna officials were also tightlipped over the present location of this tigress due to security reasons.
With the recent development, the government has planned to relocate six more tigers in Panna reserve in the near future.
For more information visit http://www.panna-national-park.com/
About Panna National Park
Panna National Park is a national park located in the Chhatarpur area of Madhya Pradesh in India. Panna National Park is also referred to as a Tiger Reserve since it comes under the aegis of Project Tiger in India. It has an area of about 543 square miles.The park is home to more than 200 species of birds including the Bar-headed Goose, the Honey Buzzard, the King Vulture and the Blossom-headed Parakeet.For more visit http://www.panna-national-park.com/
3 New Tiger Cubs Born in Panna National Park