Tiger moved to bigger enclosure in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve as part of rewilding plan

A tiger in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve was relocated to a larger enclosure as part of a rewilding initiative.

A tiger that had been housed in a five-hectare enclosure was tranquilised, radio-collared and shifted to a larger 21-hectare enclosure for further monitoring and adaptation as part of its phased rewilding in the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota.

The tiger, MT-7, was earlier rescued as a young cub from Ranthambore Tiger Reserve following the death of its mother. She and another cub were brought to Abheda Biological Park, where they were kept for nearly 22 months.

During this period, they were kept in controlled conditions to help them develop natural hunting instincts through exposure to live prey, a press release said on Saturday (February 21, 2026).

Subsequently, the female cub was transferred to a five-hectare rewilding enclosure at Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, where it has spent approximately 14 months. During this period, she demonstrated successful hunting ability, natural behavioural patterns, and adaptability, it said.

A team of experts from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) conducted a site inspection and assessed the tiger's behaviour, hunting skills, and adaptability.

Following detailed evaluation and field observations, NTCA approved the phased implementation of the rewilding plan. The first step involved shifting the tigress from the five-hectare enclosure to a larger 21-hectare enclosure.