A Long Journey Home: Young Tiger Travels 450 km To Yedshi Sanctuary In Maharashtra

Deep inside Maharashtra’s Dharashiv district, in a modest jungle not known for hosting big cats in decades, a new story of survival and resilience is being written. A three-year-old male tiger has made Yedshi Ramling Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary his home after travelling nearly 450 kilometres from Vidarbha, crossing state boundaries and human settlements, and eluding capture along the way.Spread across just 22.5 sq km, Yedshi Ramling is a relatively small protected area developed as a sanctuary in 1997. It is known for leopards, sloth bears, jackals, wolves, and a variety of deer, along with over 100 species of birds. Tigers, however, have long been absent here. That changed in December last year when forest officials spotted the unmistakable stripes of a big cat on camera traps. Soon, they confirmed what seemed improbable: the tiger had walked all the way from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal, Vidarbha.The Journey of ‘Ramling’Forest staff have affectionately named the animal ‘Ramling,’ after a temple of Lord Shiva near the sanctuary in Maharashtra. The name has already taken root in local lore. Range Forest Officer Amol Munde explained that the discovery was no fluke. “Camera trap images taken in Yedshi were matched with earlier photographs from Tipeshwar, confirming the tiger’s identity and origin. This was a wandering young male looking to carve out a territory of his own,” he said.The tiger’s journey was no straight line. Officials say he wandered into Adilabad in neighbouring Telangana, then entered Nanded and Ahmedpur, before settling in Yedshi. For a big cat barely into adulthood, it was a feat of both endurance and instinct.A Sanctuary Too SmallFor now, Ramling appears content in his new home, though the sanctuary is far from ideal for a tiger. At 22.5 sq km, it is only about one-fourth the size recommended for a single tiger territory. Unsurprisingly, he frequently ventures out into nearby talukas such as Barshi, Bhum, Tuljapur, and Dharashiv. The good news is that despite these excursions, no reports of conflict with humans have been reported.“Our Yedshi Ramling Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary is too small for him, so he wanders outside,” Munde said. “But so far, he hasn’t attacked any humans. His primary prey base now is wild boars, sambar deer, nilgais, and chinkaras, which makes his stay comfortable.”In the initial weeks, the tiger was reported to have killed cattle, raising concerns among villagers. But since April, he has defined his territory more clearly and now hunts wild prey. His movements, mostly in the early morning, remain elusive and rare.Elusive And SkilledThe forest department once attempted to capture Ramling to study him and shift him to the larger Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. A 75-day-long operation between January and April involved drones, tracking teams, and even tranquiliser units. Yet the young tiger managed to stay a step ahead.“Drones were used to track him, but he was spotted only two or three times in the entire operation,” Munde said. “This young tiger is skilled enough to conceal himself in the landscape.”Tigers Return To MarathwadaRamling is not just another dispersing male in search of space. His presence is significant because it marks the return of tigers to Marathwada after decades. According to officials, the last confirmed tiger in the region was recorded in 1971 in Gautala Wildlife Sanctuary. Nearly 50 years later, in 2020, another tiger briefly appeared in Gautala before disappearing again. Currently, two other tigers are known to shuttle between Nanded in Marathwada and Tipeshwar in Vidarbha. Ramling’s settlement in Yedshi, therefore, represents a rare and hopeful development.Wildlife experts say that such dispersals are both natural and necessary, as young tigers leave crowded habitats in search of unclaimed territories. The fact that Ramling found enough prey and cover in Yedshi suggests that the sanctuary, though small, is ecologically healthier than previously assumed.Coexistence And ChallengesFor villagers living on the periphery, the tiger is both a source of curiosity and quiet concern. Low-intensity electric fencing installed by farmers to protect crops and public movement is the main challenge officials foresee. Patrol teams have been formed to monitor Ramling’s movements and to balance human activity and the needs of the big cat.“The big cat has no challenges apart from public movement and low-intensity electric fences,” Munde said. “We have formed patrol teams that keep monitoring his location.”More About Tiger MigrationTigers, especially young males, often disperse over long distances in search of new territories and mates, with studies showing average male dispersal of 60 km in Ranthambhore and maximum recorded straight-line journeys around 315 km using GPS telemetry. In rare cases, tigers have travelled even farther; one documented journey spanned nearly 3,000 km. These movements underscore the species' natural need to expand range, avoid intraspecific conflict, and maintain genetic diversity. Protecting wildlife corridors and stepping-stone habitats is crucial to ensure safe dispersal across fragmented landscapes.(With inputs from PTI) FAQsQ1. Where did the tiger in Yedshi Sanctuary come from?The tiger, named Ramling, originally came from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Vidarbha, Maharashtra.Q2. How far did the tiger travel to reach Yedshi?Ramling travelled nearly 450 km, crossing human settlements and state boundaries before settling in Yedshi Sanctuary.Q3. Why is the tiger’s presence in Yedshi significant?It marks the return of tigers to Marathwada after decades. The last confirmed tiger in the region was recorded in 1971.Q4. What challenges does the tiger face in Yedshi Sanctuary?The sanctuary is too small for a tiger’s territory, and threats include human activity, farming, and low-intensity electric fences.Q5. How are forest officials managing the tiger’s movements?Patrol teams monitor his location regularly, and efforts are being made to ensure coexistence with nearby villagers.Inside India’s Largest Tiger Reserve: Nagarjunsagar Srisailam