A camera trap trail across the Western Ghats has revealed a remarkable feat of endurance and instinct: male tiger STRT-2, known as Subhedar, completed a long-distance round trip between Sahyadri Tiger Reserve and Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary within just two months. Though the straight-line distance between the two habitats is much shorter, forest officials estimate the tiger may have covered nearly 250 km while navigating dense forests, wildlife corridors, and human-dominated landscapes.
Tushar Chavan, field director of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, said “the movement highlights the exceptional dispersal ability of tigers in the Western Ghats”. He noted that such journeys are rarely linear, with animals forced to negotiate terrain, forest connectivity, and human presence, underscoring the importance of secure corridors for long-term conservation.
Camera trap data confirmed Subhedar’s recent round trip between the two protected areas. Earlier records indicate that the tiger was monitored at Radhanagri between April 2022 and April 2024, before being sighted again in the Sahyadri region in October 2024.
The distance puzzle
>> Straight-line distance: 100 km
>> Estimated actual distance travelled: 250 km
Reason: Non-linear movement through forests, corridors, and human landscapes
Why this journey matters
>> It highlights functional wildlife corridors in the Western Ghats
>> It hows tigers can safely traverse mixed-use landscapes
>> It reinforces need for landscape-level conservation, not isolated reserves
About the corridor
>> Sahyadri spans Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Ratnagiri districts
>> Connects Tilari, Radhanagri, Chandoli, Koyna, and Karnataka reserves
>> Around 32 tigers haunt the corridor
>> 14 tigers recorded in the Sahyadri region
Subhedar’s movements
April 23, 2022: First recorded at Radhanagri Wildlife Sanctuary
April 13, 2024: Last confirmed monitoring at Radhanagri
October 28, 2024: Sighted in Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
Past two months: Trek between two spots confirmed
What’s next?
* The Maharashtra forest department plans to reintroduce more tigers
* Efforts underway to boost prey base
* Focus on herbivores such as sambar and chital to support tiger population growth
250 km
Distance the big cat covered within two months
