Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change attended the National Workshop on "Tiger Re-introduction: Opportunities & Challenges" at Alwar, Rajasthan. The workshop was also attended by Rajasthan Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma, Director General of Forests Sushil Kumar Awasthi, International Big Cat Alliance Director General S.P. Yadav and NTCA Member Secretary Sanjay Kumar.

The workshop brought together 12 Chief Wildlife Wardens and 18 Field Directors from states and tiger reserves to discuss and deliberate on scientific and management approaches in tiger reintroduction, augmentation, and recovery programs in landscapes where tigers are absent. The technical sessions focused on aspects of active population management, prey augmentation, restoration of habitat, landscape connectivity and experience with the successful reintroduction of tiger and cheetah populations.

The workshop began with a presentation by the Wildlife Institute of India's Tiger Cell on a national approach to tiger population recovery in suitable habitats. Based on these deliberations, a list of specific reserves for focused recovery interventions was identified by the National Tiger Conservation Authority in coordination with the State Forest Departments. A senior scientist from WII also highlighted the need for in-situ support for long-term tiger recovery through prey augmentation, including the translocation of gaur and barasingha.

Participants shared experiences of translocations planned in Sariska, Mukundara Hills, Panna, Veerangana Durgavati, Simlipal, Rajaji, Sahyadri and Navegaon Nagzira Tiger reserves, habitat restoration and participation of communities in the process. The low-density forest reserves – Buxa, Achanakmar, Udanti-Sitanadi, Indravati and Palamau, spoke about their readiness for any possible resurgence in the future.

A session on Project Cheetah was also organised, focusing on introducing the Conservation initiative of inter-continental translocation of the largest of carnivores and the messages learned from Project Cheetah.

The recommendations made during the workshop are likely to help establish a national plan for future tiger reintroduction and restoring their habitats. The event culminated with a tour to the Sariska Tiger Reserve where the participants got a chance to witness the conservation initiatives and steps undertaken to recover the Sariska tiger population in the last 18 years.