Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR), located in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, is one of India’s most successful tiger reserves in terms of both conservation outcomes and consistent sightings. Spread over 1,727 sq. km, including a well-protected core and an extensive buffer zone, Tadoba forms a critical stronghold for the Bengal tiger in central India. Its dry deciduous forests, meadows, and perennial lakes also support a high density of co-predators such as leopards, wild dogs (dholes), and sloth bears, along with a rich prey base comprising spotted deer, sambar, wild boar, and gaur.
The 2024 population estimation exercise, carried out by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) & Maharashtra Forest Department under standardized protocols involving camera trapping, line transects, and habitat assessments, provides fresh insights into the status of this dynamic ecosystem. As a source population, Tadoba contributes significantly to the genetic flow and dispersal of tigers into surrounding forest divisions and adjoining protected areas like Umred-Paoni-Karhandla, Bor, and Kawal. These connections are vital for long-term tiger survival across the Central Indian landscape.
This blog delves into the recent findings of the 2024 assessment, analyzing trends in tiger numbers, population structure, density of co-predators, and availability of prey species. It also explores what these numbers suggest about Tadoba’s current ecological health, management strategies, and future challenges in maintaining a balanced and resilient predator–prey system.
Flora and Fauna of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is home to an extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna, reflecting the ecological richness of central India. The reserve supports 61 species of mammals, including apex predators like the Bengal tiger and leopard (Panthera pardus), alongside important co-predators such as the Asiatic wild dog or dhole (Cuon alpinus) and the sloth bear (Melursus ursinus). Herbivores like gaur (Bos gaurus), sambar (Rusa unicolor), chital or spotted deer (Axis axis), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak), and the rare four-horned antelope (Tetracerus quadricornis) form the primary prey base. Smaller carnivores like the jungle cat, rusty-spotted cat, and the elusive ratel or honey badger also find refuge here. Reptilian diversity is equally notable with 34 species, including the mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), Indian rock python, Russell’s viper, and spectacled cobra. TATR also boasts over 250 bird species and 174 species of butterflies, making it a paradise for birdwatchers and lepidopterists alike.
Botanically, the reserve falls under the Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest category as per Champion and Seth’s classification. The vegetation includes distinct forest types such as dry deciduous, bamboo-dominated patches, riparian stretches, and scrubland. Teak (Tectona grandis) is the most dominant tree species, accompanied by Terminalia eliptica (Ain), Terminalia arjuna (Arjun), Chloroxylon swietenia (Bhera), Anogeissus latifolia (Dhawada), and Madhuca indica (Mahua). Moist riparian zones support species like Jamun (Syzygium cumini) and Mango (Mangifera indica). According to a study by Paliwal & Mathur (2014), mixed bamboo forests, primarily of Dendrocalamus strictus, cover nearly 78% of the reserve, further shaping its unique forest structure and offering crucial cover for wildlife movement.
Study Objectives and Methodology
As part of the long-term monitoring initiative launched by the Wildlife Institute of India in 2019, the study in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve aims to provide comprehensive insights into the status of tigers, their co-predators, and prey species. The primary objectives include estimating occupancy, density, and abundance using a range of field-based and analytical approaches. Presence data is collected through signs, sightings, and calls, analyzed using occupancy models (MacKenzie et al., 2002, 2006), while camera trapping is used for capture-recapture analysis to assess tiger and co-predator populations. The abundance and density of key herbivore species are estimated via distance sampling and line transects, following protocols developed by Buckland et al. (2001, 2004). Additionally, scat analysis provides non-invasive insight into carnivore diets, and radio telemetry and camera trap data support the estimation of survival, recruitment, and dispersal rates.
The study also focuses on creating a photo-database of individual tigers, enabling accurate identification, tracking, and long-term monitoring. Changes in individual tiger presence across sessions help detect dispersal events within and beyond Tadoba’s boundaries. Lastly, the findings are intended to inform targeted management interventions at both the reserve and landscape levels, supporting the long-term conservation of tigers across Maharashtra.
The Analysis of the result:
Analysis of Prey Species
The 2024 line transect exercise in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve recorded 776 sightings of 10 major prey species, providing a strong indication of the prey abundance necessary to support the park’s predator population. Grey Junglefowl emerged as the most frequently encountered species in terms of sightings, with 144 sightings in the core and 79 in the buffer zone. However, in terms of individual count, Spotted Deer (Axis axis) led in the core area (287 individuals), while Gaur (Bos gaurus) dominated the buffer with 204 individuals.
The combined prey density across TATR was estimated at 20.98 animals/km², reflecting a healthy prey base. Among all species, Gaur recorded the highest individual density at 9.04 animals/km², highlighting its significant role as a biomass-rich prey species for tigers in Tadoba. This was followed by Langurs (3.32/km²), Peafowl (3.47/km²), and Spotted Deer (2.92/km²), which remain key contributors to the tiger’s diet. Sambar deer, often preferred by adult tigers for their size and biomass, had a density of 1.66/km², while Wild Boar was recorded at 1.39/km².
Species like Barking Deer and Chousingha, with lower densities (0.85/km² and 0.72/km² respectively), and small mammals like hares and junglefowl, though frequently sighted, offer limited energetic return and are more relevant to co-predators such as leopards, wild dogs, and jackals.
When comparing trends over time (2015–2024), certain fluctuations are evident. Spotted Deer, once observed at higher densities (up to 8.48/km² in 2016), show a moderate decline to 2.92/km² in 2024, potentially due to competition, habitat saturation, or increased predation. In contrast, Gaur density has increased steadily, rising from 1.42/km² in 2015 to 2.90/km² in 2024, indicating improved grassland availability and management in the buffer regions. The presence of Grey Junglefowl and Red Spurfowl has also become more prominent in recent years, with a combined density of 5.27/km², suggesting improved ground cover or perhaps reduced predation pressure in select areas.
Despite natural year-to-year variability, the current prey estimates underline a balanced mix of browsers and grazers across habitats, supporting both tiger sustenance and the needs of other carnivores like leopards, dholes, and sloth bears.
Analysis of Predator Species: Tadoba 2024
Tiger (Panthera tigris)
The 2024 camera trap exercise in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) was conducted over 72 days using 628 paired camera stations across 2 km² grids, generating 18,862 trap nights. This resulted in the capture of 95 adult individual tigers, the highest number recorded to date in the reserve’s monitoring history.
The tiger density in TATR was estimated at 7.18 tigers per 100 km² (SE ± 0.74). This is the highest recorded density since 2010, with the previous peak being 6.60 in 2022. The 95% confidence interval for 2024 ranged from 5.87 to 8.78, indicating robust population status and modeling precision.
Trend Overview (2010–2024):
- Tigers captured have grown from 15 in 2010 to 95 in 2024.
- Effective trapping area has remained relatively stable (~1300 km²), ensuring consistency in sampling effort.
- Tiger density has gradually increased from ~5.2 (2010–2019) to over 7.0 in 2024, reflecting successful management of core and buffer areas.
Distribution within TATR:
- 18 tigers used only the core area.
- 36 tigers used only the buffer area.
- 41 tigers utilized both core and buffer zones.
This increasing overlap between core and buffer suggests improved habitat connectivity and functionality of the buffer as a viable tiger habitat, reducing pressure on the core zone.
Sex Ratio and Age Structure (2024):
- 40 adult males, 54 adult females, and 1 individual of unknown sex.
- 41 cubs and sub-adults were also recorded, indicating healthy reproduction and recruitment.
Leopard (Panthera pardus)
Tadoba also supports a thriving leopard population, often overshadowed by tigers but equally critical for ecosystem balance. In 2024, 144 adult leopards were identified, with an estimated density of 11.02 per 100 km² (SE ± 0.92) the highest leopard density recorded since 2019.
Leopard Distribution (2024):
- 35 leopards utilized only the core.
- 72 leopards used only the buffer.
- 37 individuals moved across both zones.
The leopard’s dominance in the buffer area suggests its preference (or displacement) to areas with lower tiger densities, a typical behavior to avoid conflict with apex predators.
Sex Ratio (2024):
- 58 adult males, 84 adult females, 2 unknown sex a favorable skew toward females, potentially aiding faster population growth.
Key Takeaways:
- Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve sustains one of the highest known tiger densities in India, and now also exhibits exceptionally high leopard densities.
- The prey base is sufficient to support both large predators, as seen in the simultaneously rising numbers.
- The buffer area is functioning effectively as a wildlife habitat, hosting more individuals of both species than the core in some categories.
- Reproductive indicators (like number of sub-adults and sex ratios) signal a growing and genetically viable population.
- This underscores the success of management interventions, anti-poaching, community engagement, and habitat improvement in TATR.
Conclusion
The 2024 monitoring results from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve highlight the remarkable success of long-term conservation efforts in one of India’s premier tiger landscapes. With an estimated tiger density of 7.18 per 100 km² and leopard density of 11.02 per 100 km², the reserve now supports exceptionally high populations of both apex predators, backed by a robust and diverse prey base.
Notably, the increasing use of buffer areas by both tigers and leopards demonstrates the effectiveness of habitat management and connectivity across zones, helping reduce stress on the core while ensuring space for growing carnivore populations. The presence of healthy breeding populations, a strong female base, and abundant sub-adults further reflects a stable, thriving carnivore ecosystem.
Together, these findings reaffirm Tadoba’s status as a critical stronghold for big cats in Central India, where science-based monitoring, habitat improvement, and community-inclusive protection are delivering measurable results. Continued efforts to safeguard the landscape — particularly in buffer areas and corridors — will be vital for sustaining this success into the future.
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