The Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves (TOTR) is an initiative by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

• The project will be implemented over 2025–28

Objectives

• To reduce human–tiger conflicts in non-reserve landscapes by ensuring safe coexistence between people and dispersing tigers.
• To protect tigers that move beyond reserve boundaries due to habitat fragmentation, growing populations, and shrinking corridors.
• To foster a landscape-level conservation approach, balancing ecological sustainability with human safety and livelihoods.

Features

• Geographical Spread: Spans 80 forest divisions across 17 tiger-range states (including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu).
• Smart Surveillance: Deployment of AI-powered early warning tools, GPS tracking, and camera traps in non-reserve corridors.
• Rapid Response Teams (RRTs): Local youth trained and equipped with rescue units and tranquilization gear to handle sudden conflict events.
• Community Outreach: Introduction of the “Bagh Mitra” (Tiger Friends) public program and eco-awareness modules to secure local habitats

Source: The Hindu