Lantana camara invasion threatens India’s tiger habitats
HYDERABAD: The Royal Bengal tiger remains India’s apex predator, but a fast-spreading invasive weed Lantana camara is emerging as a major threat to its habitat across the country’s tiger reserves.
Introduced by the British in the 19th century as an ornamental shrub, Lantana camara, native to Central and South America, has now spread across more than 40% of India’s tiger reserve landscapes. Conservationists warn that dense lantana thickets are converting biodiverse forests into “green deserts”, undermining the ecological balance essential for sustaining tiger populations.
Prey base under threat
Lantana grows into thick, impenetrable bushes that block sunlight from reaching the forest floor, choking native grasses and shrubs. This directly affects herbivores such as chital, sambar and gaur, which form the primary prey base for tigers.
Although forests appear green, experts describe the phenomenon as “green hunger”. Lantana is toxic and indigestible to most herbivores, leading to malnutrition, migration or death. As prey numbers decline, tiger density drops and reproductive health weakens.
The plant also releases toxic chemicals into the soil a process known as allelopathy preventing native vegetation from regenerating even after disturbances.
Hunting disruption and conflict
Tigers rely on specific terrain and visibility for ambush hunting. Extensive lantana thickets restrict movement and stalking, while reduced visibility pushes herbivores to abandon these areas altogether.
As prey animals move towards forest edges in search of food, tigers and leopards follow, increasing human-wildlife conflict. In Telangana, dense lantana growth near villages has led to more frequent encounters with livestock and, in some cases, people.
Dry lantana is also highly flammable, intensifying forest fires during summer and causing further habitat degradation.
Management and restoration efforts
Forest departments across India have adopted the “root-cut stock” method, cutting lantana below the collar to prevent regrowth and inverting uprooted bushes to stop reseeding. Several reserves are also exploring productive uses of removed biomass.
At Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, nearly 44% of the area has been affected by lantana. A 2025 pilot project in Masinagudi converts cleared lantana into binder-free fuel briquettes, providing clean energy and livelihoods for local tribal communities. The initiative was highlighted by Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forests.
Similar models operate in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, where lantana-based furniture and fuel projects support conservation-linked employment.
Telangana’s Project Tiger push
In Telangana, habitat restoration is a core component of Project Tiger. For 2025–26, a ₹14.04 crore grant from the National Tiger Conservation Authority is funding invasive species removal in key reserves.
At Amrabad Tiger Reserve, tiger numbers rose from 14 in 2020 to about 34 by 2026, a growth officials attribute largely to aggressive lantana removal and grassland restoration. At Kawal Tiger Reserve, corridor clearing aims to facilitate tiger movement from Maharashtra’s Tadoba landscape.
The road ahead
Experts stress that lantana eradication requires sustained effort and post-removal restoration. Clearing must be followed by planting native grasses and shrubs to prevent reinvasion.
Conservationists believe that systematic lantana management could significantly improve habitat quality. By the time the All India Tiger Estimation 2026 concludes, areas cleared of lantana are expected to show stronger prey recovery and a louder tiger presence.
