A new scientific study has revealed that tigers in Rajasthan’s Ranthambore Tiger Reserve are feeding on a far more diverse range of prey than previously understood, with domestic livestock now forming a substantial part of their diet. The findings raise fresh concerns about growing human–tiger conflict beyond protected forest boundaries.
The study, conducted by researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the Nature Conservation Foundation, used advanced DNA metabarcoding techniques to analyse tiger scats collected from the reserve. The results were published after comparing this genetic method with traditional scat analysis, long considered the standard approach for studying carnivore diets.
Researchers collected fresh tiger scats from across Ranthambore between December 2019 and February 2020, covering more than 2,000 kilometres during repeated field surveys. Each confirmed tiger scat was analysed using both conventional mechanical sorting and DNA metabarcoding, allowing a direct comparison of the two methods.
The genetic analysis revealed nearly twice as many prey occurrences as traditional techniques. While mechanical sorting usually identified just one prey species per scat, DNA metabarcoding detected two to three prey species on average, including small mammals, birds and rare prey that were entirely missed earlier.
Scientists said the findings challenge the long-held assumption that tigers typically consume only a single prey species at a time, showing instead a far more complex feeding pattern.
While wild prey such as chital and sambar continue to play a key role in the tiger diet, the DNA-based analysis revealed that domestic cattle were the most frequently detected prey species. When combined with buffalo, livestock accounted for nearly 40% of the total dietary biomass consumed by tigers in the reserve.
Earlier mechanical sorting methods had suggested sambar deer as the most common prey, but the genetic approach significantly altered this picture. The study found cattle DNA in more than three-quarters of the analysed scats, indicating heavy dependence on domestic animals.
Researchers cautioned that the presence of livestock remains in scats does not directly pinpoint kill locations, but the widespread distribution of such scats across the reserve suggests frequent overlap between tigers and human-dominated landscapes.
Ranthambore is surrounded by villages and agricultural land, with free-grazing cattle commonly entering forest areas. Tigers are also known to move beyond park boundaries, increasing the likelihood of livestock depredation and retaliatory conflict.
The study notes that livestock loss is already the most common form of human–tiger conflict in the region. A growing reliance on cattle could intensify tensions, threatening both local livelihoods and the long-term survival of an already isolated tiger population.
Conservation experts say the findings underline the urgent need for stronger conflict-mitigation strategies outside protected areas. These include improved livestock protection, faster compensation mechanisms, community participation and insurance-based approaches to reduce economic losses for local residents.
The researchers also highlighted the broader significance of DNA-based tools in wildlife conservation, stating that such methods can provide more accurate insights into animal behaviour as human wildlife overlap continues to increase across India’s landscapes.