The Bhimashankar-Onari-Rajur (BOR) tiger reserve located in Maharashtra is among the state’s youngest and most crucial habitats for the big cat species. Notified in January 2024, it connects three protected wildlife zones in the biodiversity rich Western Ghats allowing tiger dispersal and will aid in reviving dwindling populations.
- Maharashtra saw tiger population drop by 40% from 312 in 2010 to 190 in 2018 as per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) census data.
- Habitat fragmentation preventing tiger migration identified as a key reason for facilitating the reserve.
- On 3rd January 2024, the Maharashtra State Wildlife Board finally approved the long pending BOR linkage covering 201 sq km as a reserve with critical tiger habitat status.
Salient Features
- Total Area: 201 sq km across both Northern Western Ghats and Deccan plateau regions
- Core (Critical Tiger Habitat): 141 sq km
- Buffer Zone: 60 sq km
- Tiger Population: Estimated to be 8 as of early 2024 by Wildlife Institute of India
- Connects: Bhimashankar, Someshwar and Koyana sanctuaries allowing tiger gene flow
- Mix of forest types: Semi-evergreen, Moist-mixed deciduous and dry deciduous
- Key Fauna apart from Bengal Tiger: Indian leopard, sloth bear, barking deer, sambar deer, mouse deer
Significance of the Linkage
- Serves as an important north-south tiger corridor aiding dispersal and migration
- Reduces territorial fights and also chances of inbreeding depression
- Restores historical habitat connectivity in the Northern Western Ghats
- Will augment protection for critical Tadoba-Pench-Melghat-Sahyadri population
Challenges in Tiger Conservation
- Urbanization leading to roads/train lines fragmenting forests
- Increasing man-animal conflicts – 15 Maharashtra villagers killed in tiger attacks in 2023
- Gradual decline of prey base like spotted deer and sambar due to poaching
- Climate change putting pressure on ecosystems and water availability
Future Outlook
Experts estimate the reserve has capacity to host 20+ tigers provided adequate prey base and vigilance against poaching is ensured.
- The Maharashtra Forest Department also aims to grew indigenous plantations under afforestation drives here to offset forest loss elsewhere when building the Pune Ring Road project.
- Wildlife conservationists have welcomed this move to conserve the apex predator populations in the ecologically vital Northern Western Ghats region through such proactive policy interventions.
Key Players
| Organization | Role |
| Maharashtra Forest Department | Nodal agency for conservation, eco-development |
| Wildlife Institute of India (WII) | Research, surveys and habitat evaluation |
| NTCA | Funding and key policy framework |
| Wildlife Conservation Trust | Assisting frontline staff, capacity building |
| Sanctuary Nature Foundation | Community awareness drives |
Eco-Sensitive Zones
- Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) of up to 100 m have been declared around BOR Tiger Reserve as a shock absorber to minimize human impact
- No developmental activities will be allowed in ESZ except agriculture and social forestry by local communities
- ESZ also declared along some areas around Tadoba and Umred-Karhandla sanctuaries adjoining BOR in December 2023 for additional buffering
Relocation Efforts
- There are 3 tribal hamlets inside BOR – efforts will be made to voluntarily relocate them by providing land parcels elsewhere
- Total expected cost is Rs. 5 crore for relocation of around 250 families as per initial estimates
Innovative Conservation Practices
- Usage of camera traps, GPS and predictive analytics to enhance monitoring capabilities leveraging technologies like IoT and AI
- Experiments for limited tourism in buffer regions to minimize disturbances to core areas while raising conservation awareness
The newly declared BOR Tiger Reserve heralds a critical step in securing and reviving viable big cat populations in the Western Ghats through a strategic habitat linkage approach.
- Its unique location serving as a junction between protected areas also underscores the importance of policy interventions to ensure contiguous forests amidst pressures of development.
- Conservation here will hinge on factors like curbing poaching, driving community participation and maintaining rich biodiversity.