Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday, 29 July announced that the state is actively coordinating with the governments of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for the translocation of female tigers to bolster the tiger population across the Eastern Ghats. The initiative aims to enhance genetic diversity and establish a sustainable tiger presence in the state.

The Conservation Push

Kalyan, who also serves as Andhra Pradesh's Forest and Environment Minister, made the announcement on the occasion of International Tiger Day. He described the effort as part of a long-term vision for the Eastern Ghats, stressing that protecting tigers is inseparable from protecting forests, rivers, and biodiversity.

'As part of our long-term vision to strengthen tiger populations in the Eastern Ghats, we are actively working with the Governments of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for the translocation of female tigers to enhance genetic diversity and ensure a healthy, sustainable tiger population in Andhra Pradesh,' Kalyan said.

Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve: Promising Numbers

The Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve — described as India's largest Tiger Reserve — has recorded 68 tigers and 11 cubs in the ongoing All India Tiger Estimation 2026, according to Kalyan. He called these figures a reflection of the positive impact of sustained conservation work over recent years.

Notably, the reserve's count comes at a time when India's national tiger census is still underway, making these preliminary figures particularly significant for conservationists tracking Eastern Ghats wildlife corridors.

Technology and Community at the Centre of Strategy

Andhra Pradesh has expanded its anti-poaching infrastructure, scaling protection camps from 89 to 150. The state has also deployed advanced tools including drones, camera traps, the M-STrIPES monitoring system, and a flagship initiative called HANUMAN to strengthen science-led conservation.

Crucially, local communities — particularly the Chenchu tribal community — are being integrated as equal partners in forest protection, a model that wildlife experts broadly regard as essential for long-term conservation success.

Telangana Joins the Call

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy also marked International Tiger Day by urging citizens to treat tiger conservation as a social responsibility. 'The tiger is not just a symbol of the forest; it is the king that safeguards the balance of nature. If tigers are safe, forests are safe, and thereby biodiversity, water resources, and the environment are also protected,' he said.

Reddy emphasised the need to protect tiger habitats, curb forest destruction, prevent illegal wildlife hunting, and conserve the broader environment for future generations.

What Comes Next

With inter-state coordination now formally acknowledged at the ministerial level, the translocation process is expected to move into operational planning phases, subject to clearances from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and wildlife regulators. The Eastern Ghats — historically underrepresented in India's tiger recovery story — could see a meaningful population uptick if the translocation proceeds as envisaged.