Maharashtra: Third Tigress Released into the Wild at Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
Pune, 7th February 2026: In a major boost to wildlife conservation and eco-tourism in western Maharashtra, the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) successfully released its third tigress into the wild on Saturday morning. The tigress, now officially designated as STR-06, was released into the core forest area of the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary.
The tigress was originally captured on Thursday, December 5, at around 5 pm from the Nagalwadi forest range of the Pench Tiger Reserve. After the capture, she was safely transported to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. Following a boat journey through the Koyna backwaters, the animal reached the sanctuary on Friday night.
Upon arrival, veterinary officers conducted a full health check-up. The tigress was found to be in good condition and was provided with water and meat, which she consumed normally. On Saturday at 6 am, she was released at a secure location in the core jungle zone of Koyna.
With this release, the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve now has a breeding pair in the Koyna landscape. A male tiger, STR-03, popularly known as ‘Baji’, is already present in the area. Officials believe the arrival of STR-06 will strengthen the tiger population and significantly boost wildlife tourism in the region.
Spread across 1,165 square kilometres, the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is one of Maharashtra’s ambitious conservation projects. It extends across three districts — Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur — and is known for its rich biodiversity and presence of several rare species.
The entire operation was carried out under the guidance of Sahyadri Tiger Reserve Field Director Tushar Chavan. Deputy Director Kiran Jagtap, Assistant Conservator of Forests Baba Hakke, and Range Forest Officers Sangram Godse (Flying Squad), Akshay Salunkhe (Koyna), Vijay Bate (Bamnoli), Tushar Jankar (Patan), and Akshay Karmalkar (Kandat), along with honorary wildlife wardens Rohan Bhate and Sunil Bhoite, and forest guards and staff, played a key role in the successful mission.
The tigress earlier had the identification number PTR-123 at Pench Tiger Reserve. After her relocation to Sahyadri, she has been officially registered as STR-06. Local guides have affectionately named her ‘Hirkani’.
