IAF airlifts tigress from Pench to Ramgarh Vishdhari

BHOPAL: A three-year-old tigress was airlifted from Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh to Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan on an IAF helicopter on Sunday, marking a key step in a renewed inter-state tiger translocation programme.According to forest officials, the operation followed nearly a month of intensive groundwork in Pench. Around 50 AI-enabled camera traps and motion-sensor cameras were installed across Kurai & Rukhad ranges to track the tigress's movement patterns, territory use and daily activity. Camera data was reviewed twice daily by field teams, enabling officers to identify a safe capture window.Saturday, teams moved into position to minimise disturbance.

"Margin for error in such operations is extremely small. Every step, from tracking to flight, was planned in advance," an officer involved in the operation said.Wildlife veterinarians tranquillised the tigress strictly as per protocol, while ground staff secured the area to ensure there was no civilian movement. Veterinarians conducted a health examination before placing the animal in a specially-designed transport crate with proper ventilation and monitoring access.

Her vitals were monitored as the crate was moved to a designated helipad inside the reserve.An Mi-17 helicopter landed at first light, and loading was completed swiftly to limit ground time. Senior veterinarians and forest officers from MP and Rajasthan accompanied the tigress onboard, monitoring her condition throughout the flight. Officials said airlifting was preferred over road transport to sharply reduce travel time and stress on the animal, and to avoid moving through forest corridors and human-dominated landscapes.The operation is being seen as a template for future inter-state tiger translocations approved by NTCA, which has approved translocation of 15 tigers from MP to Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Odisha as part of a broader conservation push.