Amrabad Roaring: Tiger Numbers Up, Critical Breeding Milestone Reached

Incidentally, much of the increase over the past few years in tigers in Amrabad was led by its resident matriarch F6, or Farha female going by its nickname, which this year has given birth to a litter of three cubs that are reaching sub-adulthood. The latest litter is Farha’s fourth with her giving birth to six cubs in its first three litters. The tigress, named after the Farhabad range in the reserve which is its territory, is already a ‘grandmother’ twice over with F18, a female from its first litter giving birth twice, two cubs this year, and a litter of four cubs previously. Between Farha and F18, the family now has added a total of 18 tigers to Amrabad’s growing number of tigers.

According to the Amrabad Tiger Reserve authorities, after the completion of Phase IV Tiger Monitoring for 2024–25 between December 2024 and May 2025, revealed the presence of 34 adult tigers, including 13 males, 20 females, one adult tiger whose sex could not be determined from camera trap images. While cubs too are counted, they are typically not included in the tiger population numbers until they reach the age of two years when they leave their mothers and strike out on their own.

“The number 20 in terms of female tigers that have reached breeding age in the reserve now is the magic figure, and from here on, the annual rise in tiger numbers is expected to be significant. The day might not be far off when the reserve will have some 20 cubs a year, and this means, in just another five years or so, Amrabad can hit its first 100-tiger number,” Rohit Gopidi, the Nagarkurnool district forest officer said.

“The benchmark of 20 breeding females,” he explained, “is based on ecological modelling and conservation biology principles. This number is considered the minimum viable population required to ensure genetic viability and reduce inbreeding, support natural population growth, and serve as a source for dispersal to adjoining areas and buffer zones.”

The Amrabad reserve’s field director Dr Sunil Hiremath said from now on, the plan is to build on the successes and ensure that areas in the Nagarjunasagar landscape of the reserve become ready to receive the tigers from the Nagarkurnool landscape. “We have pinpointed some problem areas and are addressing them. As part of these efforts, we are getting ready with our prey augmentation plans. As the tiger numbers grow, they will seek new territories within the reserve and by the time this situation arrives, our plan is to ensure the Nagarjunasagar landscape is ready to receive the tigers,” he said.

There are more cubs that have been discovered after the completion of the Phase IV monitoring and this is a good sign that the reserve’s conservation efforts have been paying off, Hiremath said.

Amrabad’s tiger boom

Magic breeding number of 20 females reached.

Amrabad may have 100 tigers in five years from now.