Tiger Returns to Gujarat After 33 Years!

After more than three decades, Gujarat has formally regained its tiger-bearing status. A lone tiger, which entered the state on February 22, 2025, has now completed one uninterrupted year of residence, marking a significant wildlife milestone. This return follows a long absence since 1992, when the state was excluded from national tiger estimations due to a lack of photographic evidence.

The tiger has established a territory of approximately 150 sq km in eastern Gujarat. Conservation efforts have been stepped up by the Gujarat forest department, focusing on habitat improvement, water management, and bolstering prey density with the release of ungulates. Funds have been allocated for ecological restoration.

Institutional preparedness is also a priority, with plans for a dedicated rescue and rehabilitation team and the procurement of necessary equipment. Around 100 high-tech camera traps are set to be installed for enhanced monitoring. Recent observations of scratch markings and variations in pug marks suggest the potential presence of a second tiger, prompting intensified surveillance.

Scat analysis indicates the tiger primarily preys on barking deer, nilgai, and wild boar, with no evidence of livestock predation. The animal has remained within forested zones, minimizing human-wildlife conflict. Gujarat, already home to the Asiatic lion and a robust leopard population, now aspires to sustain all three big cats, a rare conservation achievement.