Three tigresses with nine cubs spotted at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve; sign of rise in big cat count

PILIBHIT: Wildlife enthusiasts were treated to a rare and uplifting sight on Monday morning at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR), where three tigresses were seen roaming with nine cubs — an encouraging sign of the growing tiger population in the area. The sightings, captured on video by safari tourists and widely circulated on social media, have generated excitement among conservationists and tourists alike.
Divisional forest officer (DFO) of PTR, Manish Singh, confirmed the sightings and said that a tigress accompanied by four cubs was seen along a jungle safari route beginning at the Mahof Gate. "Another tigress was spotted near the Chuka tourist area with two younger cubs, while a third one was sighted near Mragnayni Tal in the same forest range with three cubs," he said.
Once facing a worrying decline in tiger population — dropping from 35 to just 24 in 2014 — PTR has since seen a remarkable rebound. Owing to rigorous conservation efforts and enhanced monitoring, the National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) 2018 national tiger estimation reported a count of 65 tigers, which increased to over 71 by 2022.
With continued sightings of new cubs, authorities of PTR are optimistic about a further rise in the tiger population, with hopes pinned on the upcoming national estimation scheduled for 2026.
PTR's remarkable conservation success has been recognised internationally. On Nov 23, 2020, the reserve was presented with the TX2 award by the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) head of ecosystems and biodiversity, Mindori Paxton, for doubling its tiger population in just four years between 2014 and 2018 – well ahead of the 10-year target set under the global TX2 goal involving 13 tiger range countries.
Additionally, on April 9, 2023, the reserve was also awarded Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA/TS) approval by the International Executive Committee (IEC) for CA/TS for improved management of the reserve, particularly in areas of tiger habitat and wildlife corridor management among other elements.
DFO Singh expressed gratitude towards the tourists who documented the sightings. "The information communicated by them has given us a leg up to strengthen the security of cubs through constant monitoring and vigil. The movement of safari vehicles in the respective areas will also deter the adult male tigers who have the innate instinct of killing the cubs for mating with the mother tigresses," he said.
"If we succeed in averting the natural mortality of these cubs, upon reaching one year of age, they will be integral parts of the national tiger estimation," Singh added.