The youngsters have to find a territory and survive before they can successfully challenge an established male. Too often they are pushed to the periphery of the reserves and come in contact with humans and cattle. Both are significant dangers. With loss of connectivity between forests, the adolescent tigers find it difficult to disperse to a suitable territory and survive.

In the early part of last century when India had less of weed infested forests, the biodiversity was good, human population was less and prey species were plenty in numbers. Small patches of forests were more productive and were able to hold large number of herbivores. So, in small patches of land shikaris were able to find large number of tigers. Less prey means more competition for survival. If tigers have to survive well, without inbreeding in some of the well known and well protected tiger reserves, then we have to improve connectivity between forests, remove the weeds like lantana to improve the native tree and plant species and give better protection to wildlife.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi