Q: “I have seen news reports that radio collaring in tigers affects mating? How true is that?”

Asked by Kishore K

Answer from Dr. K. Ullas Karanth, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS): Radio-collars have been in use since the 1960s on a variety of animals ranging in size from small birds to whales..tigers included. When professionally done it does not interfere with the normal activities of the animals. Over a 100 wild tigers have been fitted with radio-collars since the 1970s and no adverse effects on mating or reproduction have been observed. I have personally observed radio-collared tigers mating without a problem. So the news reports are not founded on facts. Of course, if the collar is not fitted properly it could cause problems and interfere with the activities of animals.

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