Tiger Stress Spikes: Core Zones Not Always Safe

Tigers inhabiting areas with frequent human presence, including tourism roads, exhibit consistently higher levels of stress hormones. A recent study by CSIR-CCMB scientists reveals that tigers in strictly protected core zones react more intensely to human disturbances than those in multi-use buffer zones. This challenges the notion that core zones are universally low-stress environments.

The research, spanning two years across five Indian tiger reserves, analyzed 610 tiger scat samples. Findings indicate that tigers near tourism roads or in high-disturbance areas showed elevated stress. This pressure can negatively affect breeding tigresses, potentially lowering reproductive success and influencing cub development.

While acknowledging tourism's role in conservation funding and local livelihoods, the study suggests stricter regulation. Recommendations include limiting tourist vehicles, reducing safari durations, managing buffer zones more effectively, and creating alternative water sources away from tourist routes.

These findings, published in Animal Conservation, offer crucial insights for refining tiger reserve management. The research emphasizes the importance of molecular biology and physiology in supporting endangered species conservation efforts.