The recent capture and incarceration in Kanpur zoo of Pilibhit tigress Mithi, who gained notoriety for several human kills, had the green brigade clamouring that animals in conflict deserved a second chance and there should be rehab/holding enclosures or soft release centres for relief before final judgement. What are soft release centres and why are they needed? TreeTake takes a look …
In several areas near tiger reserves in Uttar Pradesh, particularly western UP, carnivores live cheek by jowl with humans, literally jostling for space. Consequently, conflicts and encounters are unavoidable. That it is not altogether the animals’ fault is another matter. The National Tiger Conservation Authority cites the following causes for felines venturing into human habitats to feed on livestock: Humans let loose their cattle in forest areas for grazing and tend to encroach upon forest land, exposing their livestock to predation. Tigers disperse into human-dominated landscapes when the carrying capacity of a source area is reached, forcing them to prey on livestock. Young, old and weak tigers are pushed to the periphery of optimal habitats by tigers that have greater vigour. Whatever the reason, encounters, even by chance and the subsequent attacks, injury or human death may occur in such circumstances. How then are such problem animals to be dealt with?
Pilibhit tigress Mithi’s forays into human habitations and subsequent kills, ultimately leading to a caged life in a zoo, elicited calls for soft-release hubs for conflict animals, even before she was captured. Several activists said she should have been captured and kept in a soft-release centre before being released in a dense forest area. Social media was flooded with videos and comments. Activist and tour operator Siddharth Singh wrote on social media: “Blunder was to release her after being caught once. Make a tiger bada or a tiger enclosure inside the core critical habitat of PTR / CTR for holding such conflict tigers or leopards to ascertain they are the actual conflict animal responsible that are caught. Kanha, Bhandhavgarh, Panna RTR Corbett all have gone ahead and made such enclosures. Four cubs brought to Lucknow Zoo from Pilibhit Tiger Reserve would have got a second chance had there been an enclosure like other tiger reserves have made... and with time reintroduced such cubs back to the wild and re-populate areas like Suhelwa. Mhithi tigress, when captured first time, could have been kept in such an enclosure instead of being released to Compartment no 105, and further conflict would have been avoided. The conflict animal, once caught, is sent straight to a zoo, which, as per rules, cannot be re-wilded again, but with a tiger enclosure, the animal gets a second chance.”
Another post by a veteran animal activist said: “Seven human kills attributed to Mithi tigress so far... she was captured after three human kills and released back in PTR near Uttarakhand border… now catching her again would be most difficult but if they do catch her, she is sentenced to life imprisonment which for a wild free ranging animal is more torturous than being put down . We do not have any rehabilitation centre in UP for a conflict animal and a life in a cage is only option. PTR should have developed a holding enclosure for captured conflict animals which in turn would provide a relief between capturing and final judgement... Kanha Bandhavgarh Panna are standing Example of such tiger enclosures inside core critical habitats. We have a long way to go in mitigation measure … I would like to highlight the immediate requirements of such tiger enclosures. Sad example is of the four cubs brought to Lucknow Zoo from PTR and as a rule once sent to a Zoo they cannot be relocated to the wild whereas if kept in such tiger enclosures they can be rewilded as was done in Panna and Sanjay Dubri.”
Activists also said that from May 14 when the Pilibhit tigress made her first kill, to the time she was captured, she could not have survived merely on seven human kills and must have been hunting its natural prey. So given a chance, it could have reformed. Some even said they planned to move court for a soft release centre. However, according to DFO PTR Manish Singh, Mithi was responsible for three deaths and not seven. Avian enthusiast and animal activist Kaushalendra Singh was of the view that feline forays in human habitats would not stop unless encroachment on forest land was checked and tiger territory fenced off. But a soft release centre would certainly be useful in raising orphaned or abandoned cubs.
Sources in the Panna Tiger reserve said there was an enclosure there, but it had not been used for quite some time. It was used around 2009 when the tiger population in the reserve was low and big cats were brought from outside to be translocated. They were kept there for acclimatisation before being released in the reserve. An orphaned tiger cub was also kept there. Conflict animals had not been housed as there were no conflicts in the area. Even if a big cat ventured out, it always went back to the forest on its own.
However, the hullabaloo does bring to the fore the question: what is soft release and are such hubs needed?
In wildlife rehabilitation, a "soft release" is the process of gradually introducing a previously captive or rehabilitated animal back into its natural environment. In contrast, a "hard release" means releasing it abruptly in the wild. It is said that a gradual introduction helps the animal adapt to the wild, relearn natural behaviour and find food and shelter with support and monitoring. In a soft release, animals are given time to adjust to their surroundings, including learning to forage for food, avoid predators and establish territories. The animal might be released into a large enclosure or a protected area within its natural habitat, allowing for initial exploration while still having access to human support. Wildlife experts closely observe the animal's progress to ensure that it is adapting well and not exhibiting signs of stress or inability to thrive. Support includes providing food, water, and shelter to help the animal transition. The level of support is gradually reduced as the animal becomes more self-sufficient. A soft release increases the likelihood of an animal's long-term survival by allowing for a more natural transition back into the wild. As it is a gradual process, it minimises stress associated with a sudden release into unfamiliar surroundings. Animals have time to relearn essential survival skills, like hunting and avoiding danger. In contrast, a hard release involves releasing an animal into the wild without any gradual acclimation or support. This method can be risky, especially for animals that have been in captivity for a long time or those that are young and lack experience. For hand-raised young animals or those that have been in captivity, a soft release is said to be ideal, as it gives them the best chance to thrive in the wild.
How soft release centres work:
Tigers are initially placed in enclosed areas within the reserve, allowing them to adapt to the new environment, get used to the local terrain, and establish a routine. Tigers undergo acclimatisation and health checks in the enclosures before being released. The animals are then gradually released from the enclosures, but they may still have access to the enclosures for food, water, and shelter. Soft release centres are often used in conjunction with prey supplementation programmes, where prey animals like deer are released into the area to ensure adequate food sources for the tigers.
Benefits of soft release centres:
By providing a controlled environment for tigers to adjust, soft release centres can improve their chances of survival and successful reproduction in a new area. Soft release strategies can help mitigate human-wildlife conflict by providing a safe space for tigers and managing their movement. In some cases, soft release centres can be used to rehabilitate animals that have been involved in human-wildlife conflict, helping them to avoid future interactions with humans and reducing the risk of further. Soft release hubs are an important tool for tiger conservation, helping to restore and enhance tiger populations in areas where they have been depleted. Soft release is particularly beneficial in conservation translocations, where animals are moved to new areas to bolster populations or restore ecosystems.
NTCA guidelines on carnivores straying into human territory:
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) guidelines offer a second chance to animals that have come into conflict accidently, advocating a soft release.
As per the NTCA, in all instances of wild carnivores like tiger/leopard straying into a human dominated landscape, the district authorities need to ensure law and order by imposing section 144 of the Cr.PC. This is essential to avoid agitation/excited local people surrounding the animal spot which hampers capture operation, leading to serious injuries on people and staff. It is also necessary that police and local administration be involved at an early stage. Effective coordination with them is critical to control mobs which as has been seen in several instances, worsen the situation and lead to avoidable fatalities/tragedies. Take help of the district level officials to alert the villages in the vicinity of the area having the spatial presence of the tiger. If successive trapping efforts fail, chemical immobilisation of the wild carnivore should be done by an expert team having a veterinarian, as per the protocol.
In case the tranquilised tiger is found to be healthy in prime or young age without any incapacitation (loss of canine, injury, broken paw etc. as confirmed/ certified by a committee, then it may be released after radio collaring in a suitable habitat with adequate prey base, away from the territory of a resident male tiger (if any) or human settlements, under intimation to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (Under no circumstances an injured/incapacitated tiger should be released back, and the same needs to be sent to a recognised zoo). Under no circumstances, a tiger should be eliminated by invoking the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, if it is not habituated for causing human death. In case of a healthy tiger/encumbered tigress occupying a sugar cane field or similar habitat, attempt should be made first to attract it to nearby forest area, while avoiding disturbance. If such operations fail, the animal should be captured through immobilisation for release in low density habitats.
Tigers that kill humans accidentally need to be treated differently from those that have become ‘dangerous to human life’. ‘Dangerous to human life’ need to be removed immediately and should not be reintroduced into free-ranging conditions, while tigers that have come into conflict situations accidentally can be captured and reintroduced into vacant/low-density habitats. Preferably, tigers that are released after relocation should be equipped with satellite telemetry collars so that they can be tracked remotely. In case such tigers continue to be problem animals, they should be recaptured and put in captivity or eliminated. Release into a new area should preferably be done by a soft release protocol. Hard release should only be considered when logistic constraints do not permit soft release. The release site should have good habitat, prey density and protection measures. Human density at the release site should be low and composed of communities that have experience of living with large carnivores. Orphaned/abandoned tiger cubs, which are known to accompany their mother while feeding on kills, should be released in the larger portion of the in-situ enclosure containing natural prey.
This clearly means a soft-release hub is needed for animals that come into conflict accidentally, as well as for orphaned or abandoned cubs.
Rescue centres vs soft release hubs:
Four modern rescue centres are being built in the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary (Meerut), Pilibhit Tiger reserve, Sohagibirwa Wildlife Sanctuary (Maharajganj) and Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary ( Chitrakoot). The aim is to safely house wild animals that stray into human territory and to reduce conflicts.
However, a soft release centre is different from a rescue centre. DFO PTR Manish Singh explained that the latter was spread over a smaller area and equipped with a medical facility and a quarantine space to treat and monitor injured animals before release. “A soft release centre is an enclosed space but spread over a much larger area, at least 3 or 4 hectares, with a natural environment and prey base,” he said.
Foresters’ take:
Retired senior forest official HS Pabla was of the view that human lives must not be compromised with at any cost, even if problem animals had to be deported to the zoo. Another retired senior forester Mohd Ahsan was more forthright. “Frankly speaking, I am not familiar with this concept. For one thing, no tiger is sent to the zoo after an incidental kill, and for another, activist ke kehne se kya hota hai? Has any study or research paper proved the efficacy or need for a soft release centre?” he questioned.
Field director Dudhwa Rajamohan was noncommittal on the need for soft release centres, saying it was a policy matter. He said orphaned or abandoned cubs could be kept in rescue centres till they were rewilded. Similarly, injured, debilitated tigers or even those in conflict could be housed in rescue centres where they would be medically examined, given treatment if required and their physical and mental health monitored before a call was taken on if and when to release them.
On a second chance to conflict felines, he said it depended on the animal’s history and behaviour based on which a committee took the decision. “But in 90 per cent of cases, we release the animals back into the forest.” In this context, he cited the instance of a Sujauli tiger that attacked a human in Purva village last year. He was caught, radio-collared, and released in Katarniaghat. “He went to Nepal twice and came back, but never had any other conflict. For the past two months, he has settled in Sujauli. Seeing his normal behaviour, ultimately, we remotely removed his radio collar,” he said. He also said that felines preying on livestock had to be captured ultimately because they were at risk of being poisoned by villagers. But all such decisions on capture and release were taken by an expert committee.
DFO Pilibhit Tiger Reserve Manish Singh explained that a soft release centre was an enclosure spread over 4-5 hectares, akin to the tiger’s natural habitat. Any tiger that had lived in the wild and had come to a rescue centre on account of any injury was kept in the soft release centre so that it could again get acclimatised to its natural surroundings and then released in the wild. Orphaned cubs could also be raised there to teach them hunting skills. Asked about the need for such centres in the state, he simply said the more the facilities, the better. However, he said a conflict animal could best be monitored in a rescue centre to decide if it was fit to be released in the wild. Even zoos had limited capacity, he said. A single kill did not mean the feline was a man-eater. It could have attacked in a chance encounter and should be given benefit of doubt. But there was a protocol for conflict animals, he said. On the PTR rescue centre, he said it was near completion and could house nine tigers and three leopards.
Soft release example:
A male tiger that strayed into a house in Silli, Ranchi, was rescued and underwent a soft release at the Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR). The tiger was initially in shock due to the traumatic experience of being confined in a house and then caged during the rescue. After a week of refusing food, the tiger began eating again after receiving medicated water. As per reports, the tiger entered a house in Silli, Ranchi and was rescued by foresters. It was traumatised by being confined in a room with goats for 12 hours and then being caged during its transportation to PTR. The tiger was placed in a soft release centre within PTR, a designated area for acclimatising rescued tigers to the wild. Initially, the tiger refused food for about a week. PTR officials provided medicated water with analgesics and antibiotics, which helped the tiger regain its appetite It is now reportedly on a hunting spree.
Soft release hubs for wild tuskers
The Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka is using a soft release strategy to address human-elephant conflict by rehabilitating problem elephants in the sanctuary. This involves capturing elephants causing trouble in other areas and gradually releasing them into the sanctuary after a period of acclimatization in an enclosure. To note, human-elephant conflict in districts like Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu is a growing concern, leading to crop damage, property destruction and even human casualties. But instead of permanent captivity or translocation, the Karnataka Forest Department is implementing a soft release strategy. The captured elephants will first be kept in a 20 square kilometre enclosure within the sanctuary for acclimatisation, health checks, and monitoring before being released into designated areas.
Some other tiger reserves across India are involved in conservation efforts that may include soft release strategies as part of broader initiatives to manage and increase tiger populations. Madhya Pradesh, known as the "Tiger State", has several tiger reserves where soft release programs are implemented. If media reports are to be believed, Gujarat is planning a soft release strategy for captured Indian Grey wolves.
Conclusion
Soft release centres are crucial for successful wildlife conservation and rehabilitation because they allow for a gradual and controlled reintroduction of animals to their natural habitat. By providing a period of acclimatisation, supplemental food and monitoring, soft release hubs increase the chances of long-term survival and successful integration of rescued or rehabilitated animals back into the wild. Soft release is particularly beneficial in conservation translocations, where animals are moved to new areas to bolster populations or restore ecosystems. Soft release centres allow for continued monitoring of the animals, providing opportunities for intervention if needed and gathering valuable data on their behaviour and adaptation.
In some cases, soft release centres can be used to rehabilitate animals that have been involved in human-wildlife conflict, helping them to avoid future interactions with humans and reducing the risk of further conflict. However, at the same time, it is necessary that humans respect animals, their behaviour and their territory and learn to coexist with them. The Dalai Lama rightly said: “Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures.”
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