Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s only wild tiger has completed 17 months of continuous stay in the state, a boost to its claim as a tiger-bearing state. The big cat crossed into Gujarat from Madhya Pradesh on February 22, 2025, and has since settled in the forests of the east, shuttling between Chhota Udepur and Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary. Forest officials estimate it now ranges over roughly 120 sq km, staying largely inside forested habitat.Through its stay, the tiger has fed entirely on wild prey, with nilgai and wild boar making up much of its diet. Officials said it has almost entirely avoided livestock. Earlier this year, concerns were raised after about 15 goats were found dead in the region due to suspected food poisoning. A wide search and stepped-up surveillance followed; the tiger was found to be safe, and nothing linked it to the incident.The tiger’s prolonged stay has encouraged the Gujarat forest department to strengthen habitat management and monitoring efforts. A fresh tiger estimation exercise is planned after the monsoon, using camera traps and field surveys to confirm the resident animal’s presence and check whether any others have entered the landscape.National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has, meanwhile, cleared in principle the translocation of a tigress to Gujarat to support the establishment of a breeding population. However, officials said no timeline has been finalised for the move.The tiger’s continued presence has revived hopes of restoring a viable tiger population in Gujarat. The state, already home to the world’s only Asiatic lions and a healthy leopard population, now aims to establish itself as the only state in India supporting all four big cats. The cheetahs are also expected to arrive by the end of this year. Wildlife experts believe that sustained habitat improvement, prey availability and protection measures could allow more tigers to disperse naturally into Gujarat in the coming years.
