India, May 13 -- The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR) in Maharashtra is looking expectantly at two of its tigresses to help set a record. Forest officials suspect that the tigresses, Chanda and Tara, are pregnant. If tests confirm their suspicion, the cubs born will be STR's first breeding tiger population, a major milestone in the park's ongoing efforts to revive the animal's presence in the northern Western Ghats landscape.

Both tigresses were brought to the reserve between November and December 2025 from the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve to join a streak of eight other tigers. Forest officials said the movement and behavioural patterns of the two tigresses indicate possible pregnancy. For now, they are closely monitoring the animals using ...