Tigers are back in Panna, and becoming social media stars

Motorists driving on Panna-Katni highway in Madhya Pradesh were treated to a wondrous sight of three tigers sauntering out of the Panna Tiger Reserve's core area yesterday morning.
Wildlife lovers in the country were shocked in 2009 when it came to light that not a single tiger had been left in the Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR); most of them had fallen prey to poaching.
The Madhya Pradesh government then started a program under which tigers from Bandhavgarh and other sanctuaries in the state were relocated to Panna reserve. Population of the big cat in PTR has steadily grown since.
A video of three tigers crossing the road, shot by a passer-by near Bandikala village on Panna-Katni highway yesterday morning, went viral on social media today.

PTR field director Vivek Jain said the group consisted of a tigress and her one-and-a-half years old cubs who were moving from the core area to the buffer zone.
"A tigress generally takes her cubs out to other areas when they grow up. At the age of around two-and-a-half years, tigers create their own territory. These cubs are now entering this age," Jain said.

The number of tigers in PTR has risen to 35 after the reintroduction programme was launched in 2009.
Tiger conservationist Ajay Dubey however expressed his concern over the outward movement of tigers.
"During the monsoon, tigers come out in open from the deep forest. Therefore forest officials need to be vigilant about tigers' safety. PTR had once lost all its tigers to poaching," he said.