Centre Orders DNA Tests for Tigers

Ranthambore tigers will be genetically tested to ensure only those compatible are sent to repopulate Sariska.

Better late than never. Six months after Open published a report exposing the arbitrary selection of tigers from Ranthambore for the world’s first wild tiger reintroduction programme in Sariska, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has decided to go about the exercise scientifically. It has directed state authorities to conduct DNA tests of the tigers at Ranthambore to ensure that only those compatible for breeding are chosen for transfer.

The Open cover story had detailed how warped Government policy and lack of scientific screening fuelled the risk of inbreeding in Sariska.

The three tigers picked up from Ranthambore between June 2008 and February 2009 turned out to be two sisters and their half-brother. This was followed by a similar exercise in Madhya Pradesh, where two tigresses from Bandhavgarh and Kanha were taken to Panna. In both relocation programmes, five tigers each were to be transferred but following the expose, the Government held back.

Finally, four months after the Open expose, a tiger was shifted to Panna last November—this time from Pench to ensure genetic diversity alongside the tigresses from Bandhavgarh and Kanha.

Sariska, meanwhile, waited even as its new inhabitants failed to breed. Faced with the potential failure of its experiment, the Ministry of Environment and Forests finally gave in. At an NTCA meeting held last month in the presence of Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, it was decided that future transfers would be conducted only after DNA tests to ensure compatibility. 

The NTCA has already issued an order, engaging Bangalore’s National Centre for Biological Science to conduct the tests. ‘The Hon’ble Minister for Environment and Forests has directed for DNA testing of all three tigers already translocated to Sariska by Dr Uma Ramakrishnan, National Centre for Biological Science, through fecal samples, besides similar testing for the two tigers earmarked at Ranthambore for translocation to Sariska. Based on the outcome of these tests for confirming breeding compatibility, further action would be taken,’ states an NTCA note issued recently.

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Jay Mazoomdaar