Sariska readies for some royal romance


Ranthambhore tigress reaches Sariska, first male set to walk free

4 July, 2008 Hindustan Times

With the safe release of a 170-kg, four-year-old Ranthambhore tigress– popularly known as the Lakrda female -- in the second enclosure at Naya Pani at the stroke of noon today, Sariska's first couple is now in place.
The tigress was sedated at 7 am this morning and waited till 11-15 when the chopper finally took off from Ranthambhore. She appeared in good health when she was released around 12 noon in Sariska. VP Singh, chief of Rajasthan's state tiger task force, told Hindustan Times that the forest department would try to fly in another tigress before the monsoon sets in.
Meanwhile, presumably waiting for a partner, the T10 male – rather unimaginatively identified after his position in Ranthambhore's tiger index -- has already made two kills since his arrival at Sariska. With forest officers wary that any more goat may spoil his prey preference permanently, he is all set to walk free later tonight or tomorrow.With a prayer that he doesn't stray outside the forest, a team of scientists from Wildlife Institute of India will track his movements round-the-clock.
However, the two big cats will have to wait before they can check eachother out in the wild. Like the T10 male introduced on June 28, the tigress will also spend a few days inside her enclosure before she isfreed.
Once the Lakrda female is let out, Sariska will hold its breadth forthe royal courtship to begin. Cats mate easily but occasionally certain pairs act stubborn. In the present case, the T10 male being arather young tiger, forest officials feel he may need a bit of mentoring.
But the Lakrda female – so named after her territory in Lakrda – is atigress of rare pedigree. She is one of the many daughters of thevenerable Lady of the Lake (again named after her territory) alias Machhli (fish mark on her skin), the tigress famous for successfully raising four litters. No doubt the forest officials can trust the Lakrda female to take effective early initiatives to repopulate Sariska.

No comments: