T-24 (tiger)

T-24 (tiger), also known as Ustad, was a male Bengal tiger residing in the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, India. He gained significant notoriety due to accusations of human attacks, which ultimately led to his controversial relocation from the park's core area to a more confined area within the Sajjangarh Biological Park near Udaipur in 2015.

Ustad, identified by park authorities as T-24, was a dominant male who controlled a significant territory within Ranthambore. He fathered numerous cubs with his primary mate, T-39 (Noori), contributing significantly to the tiger population of the park. His strength and territorial behavior were considered typical for a dominant male tiger in his environment.

The controversy surrounding T-24 stemmed from a series of incidents where humans were killed or injured within his territory. While official investigations did not definitively prove that T-24 was solely responsible for all the incidents, circumstantial evidence and public perception heavily implicated him. Wildlife activists and local communities held differing views on the matter, with some arguing for his removal to protect human lives, and others emphasizing the importance of protecting tigers in their natural habitat and questioning the direct link between T-24 and the reported attacks.

The decision to relocate T-24 was met with widespread protests and legal challenges from conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts, who argued that it set a dangerous precedent for managing human-wildlife conflict. They contended that addressing the underlying issues of encroachment on tiger habitat and ensuring better safety measures for villagers would be a more sustainable solution than simply removing problematic animals. The relocation of T-24 raised ethical questions regarding the management of wildlife populations in conflict zones and the balance between human safety and conservation efforts.

Following his relocation to Sajjangarh Biological Park, T-24 remained in captivity until his death in 2016. His story serves as a case study in the complexities of human-wildlife conflict and the challenges of managing large predators in increasingly fragmented landscapes. The debate surrounding T-24 highlighted the need for comprehensive conservation strategies that address both the needs of local communities and the long-term survival of endangered species.