Processed and raw data of translocated collared problem tigers

Understanding how wild animals move and use space, particularly those involved in conflicts such as livestock predations or attacks on people in communities near protected areas, is crucial for managing conflicts. Satellite GPS tracking enables to obtain fine scale near-real-time movement data of such animal like conflict-causing tigers.  In this study, we captured, satellite GPS collared, and translocated eleven tigers involved in conflicts with local communities primarily in the buffer zones of Chitwan and Bardia national parks, Nepal in Terai Arc Landscape. All of the collared tigers were released into the core areas of Chitwan (n= 7) and Bardia (n= 4) national parks during 2013-2025. These tigers showed an erratic and large-distance movement behavior compared to territorial tigers. Although grassland was the most preferred habitat, the collared tigers spent most of the time inside the forests due to large forest coverage within their range. However, the tigers moved back to the buffer zone areas in an average 13.6 days and again involved in conflict. They stayed primarily within forests and avoided crop land or human settlements. There was no significant difference in habitat use by tigers between habitat types (forest, grassland, shrubland, water bodies and settlements) and parks (Bardia and Chitwan). The tigers moved an average distance of 172 m (67-352 m) per hour. They were active mostly during the late evening and early morning. None of these translocated problem tigers occupied territories inside the park, but moved to the buffer zone or outside and were subsequently involved in conflict. We found that capturing and releasing conflict-causing tigers in the wild is not necessarily effective in their rehabilitation. Thus, alternative measures are necessary for managing problem tigers, including putting them in captivity, such as zoos, rescue centers and tiger sanctuaries.