Six tigers missing in Ranthambore  

Context: Six tigers have been unaccounted for since March 2020 in the Ranthambore tiger sanctuary, Rajasthan.

Details:

• State forest officials are not willing to label them missing and denied reports that they may have been poached.
• Independent wildlife groups such as Tiger Watch have alleged that the tigers have been missing for over a year and that negative human intervention is the cause (poaching).
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority, a wing of the Union Environment Ministry, has constituted a committee to ascertain the disappearance of the tigers.

About Ranthambore Forest Reserve:

• The Ranthambore forest reserve consists of highly fragmented forest patches, ravines, river streams, and agricultural land.
• The Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is connected to the Kuno-Palpur landscape in Madhya Pradesh through parts of the Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, the ravine habitats of Chambal and the forest patches of Sheopur.
• Tributaries of river Chambal provide easy passage for tigers to move towards the Kuno National Park.
• Ranthambore National Park harbours dry deciduous forests and open grassy meadow. The flora of the park includes 539 species of flowering plants.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/six-tigers-missing-in-ranthambore/article34111892.ece