Tigress SKT02 is the only big cat to have roamed the landscape the most, crucially increasing the tiger population in the area; SKT02 was first photographed in 2014 by a Maharashtra Forest Department team alongside wildlife researcher Girish Punjabi and his team from the Wildlife Conservation Trust
SKT02, the elusive matriarch of the Sahyadri Tiger Landscape. pic/Wildlife Conservation Trust/Maharashtra Forest Department
Wildlife researchers and forest officials confirm that SKT02 has given birth to cubs at least three times, making her one of the most reproductively successful wild tigresses in the Sahyadris — a rare and vital achievement for this ecologically significant but often overlooked region.
A decade of dominance
SKT02 was first photographed in 2014 by a Maharashtra Forest Department team alongside wildlife researcher Girish Punjabi and his team from the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT). Since then, she’s been under regular monitoring across the corridor landscapes of Sahyadri.
At the time of her first sighting, a younger female, presumed to be her daughter, was seen accompanying her, while a male tiger, SKT01, was also present in the area. That daughter was later tagged as SKT03. In 2015, SKT02 was caught on camera with three cubs feeding on a gaur kill. Two of those cubs, later identified as SKT04 and SKT05, survived to adulthood.
She delivered a second litter in 2017, with cubs SKT07 and SKT08, who were later photographed by BNHS in 2018. While SKT02 hasn’t been photographed with cubs in recent years, possibly due to growing territorial pressure from multiple males, she remains active as of 2025, placing her estimated age at 15 years.
“SKT02 is a true survivor who’s held her ground through adversity for over a decade,” said Girish Punjabi, conservation biologist with WCT. “She’s helped revive the small tiger population in the Sahyadri-Konkan corridor. Only time will tell how her legacy continues.”
Landscape in focus
The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve plays a key role in the larger Sahyadri-Konkan-Kali corridor, which connects protected zones across Tilari, Radhanagari, Chandoli, Koyna, and into Karnataka’s Kali Tiger Reserve.
There are currently about 32 tigers in the entire corridor, 14 of which are believed to roam the Sahyadri forests in Maharashtra. With the landscape improving, the Maharashtra Forest Department is planning the reintroduction of tigers, bolstered by herbivore restoration and habitat management.
“We’re creating a habitat capable of supporting at least 27 tigers in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve,” said Rohan Bhate Shah, honorary wildlife warden, western Maharashtra. “Efforts include camera trap studies, foot patrols, and forming a rapid response team under the guidance of Wildlife Institute of India.”
Tushar Chavan, field director of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, added: “SKT02 is a symbol of tiger conservation not just in Sahyadri but across the Western Ghats. Her survival and offspring are proof that sustained efforts are paying off. We’re now looking at strategic landscape-level conservation.”
Tigress who built a dynasty
>> SKT02 first photographed in 2014 by the WCT team
She delivered cubs in 2013, 2015, and 2017
Her offspring are spreading her legacy:
>> SKT04 spotted in Sahyadri in 2024 with three cubs
>> SKT07 was seen in Goa’s Mhadei Sanctuary in 2021
She was reported pregnant again in 2023, though no cubs were recorded
Still active in 2025, at around 15 years old
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