Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has accorded the final approval to Rajasthan’s fifth and India’s 54th Tiger Reserve in Dholpur-Karauli.
Tiger Reserves in Rajasthan
- Ranthambore: It was declared one of the Project Tiger reserves in 1973 and became a national park on 1 November 1980.
- The number of tigers in Ranthambore has increased from 63 to 80 in two years.
- Sariska: The wildlife sanctuary was declared a national park in 1982. With a total area of about 273.8 km, the reserve is situated in the Alwar district. Tiger numbers have risen to 27 in the reserve.
- Mukundra Hills: It is situated between two parallel mountains. It was established in 2004. Now, it is the home of four tigers which has recently shifted here from the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
- Ramgarh Vishdhari: It lies in the southeastern part of Rajasthan in Bindi district with representation of both Vindhyan and Aaravalli elements.
Tiger Population in India
- The number of tigers in India has increased from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022, an annual rise of 6 per cent. (Government Data).
- States with Highest Tiger Population: Madhya Pradesh (785), Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).
- The number of tigers in Rajasthan has increased from 32 in 2006 to 88 in 2022.
What is the National Tiger Conservation Authority?
- About:
- The NTCA is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation.
- Objectives:
- Providing statutory authority to Project Tiger so that compliance of its directives becomes legal.
- Fostering accountability of Center-State in management of Tiger Reserves, by providing a basis for MoU with States within our federal structure.
- Addressing livelihood interests of local people in areas surrounding Tiger Reserves.