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.