Shimla, September 20
Himachal Pradesh’s 11-year wait for Royal Bengal Tigers at Renuka Ji Zoo has finally ended, with a pair of tigers arriving from Maharashtra on Sunday afternoon.
The tiger pair reached the zoo at around 1 pm after covering nearly 1,900 km from the Gorewada Wildlife Rescue Centre in Maharashtra. The male tiger is around five years old, while the female is approximately three years old.
The pair was transported under the supervision of a seven-member team led by Dr Shah Nawaz, IFS, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Shimla, ensuring necessary care and monitoring throughout the journey.
Preeti Bhandari, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Shimla South, said that necessary arrangements had been made at Renuka Ji Zoo in accordance with the habitat requirements of the tigers. The enclosure and allied facilities have been developed at a cost of around ₹1.67 crore.
Bhandari said the arrival of the tiger pair marked an important development for wildlife conservation in Himachal Pradesh. She added that the presence of Royal Bengal Tigers is expected to boost wildlife tourism prospects
Speaking about the wildlife exchange programme, Dr Shah Nawaz said approval for the exchange programme was received in August, following which the process of bringing the tigers to the state was initiated.
Under the exchange programme, a pair of Red Junglefowl (jungle chickens) from Renuka Ji Zoo was sent to the Tiger Rescue Centre in Nagpur, Maharashtra. In return, Himachal Pradesh received a pair of Royal Bengal Tigers for Renuka Ji Zoo.
Officials said the exchange programme is significant for the state, as the arrival of the tigers is expected to add a major attraction to Renuka Ji Zoo and strengthen its potential as a wildlife tourism destination.
Dr Shah Nawaz expressed gratitude to all officials and personnel involved in the exchange and transportation process, saying the initiative was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the concerned departments and teams.
