Rajasthan govt notifies the formation of Ramgarh Tiger Reserve as the state's 4th tiger reserve

In a bid to further the number of tigers in India, the Rajasthan government declared the Ramgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Bundi district as the country’s 52nd tiger reserve. Notably, it will be Rajasthan's 4th tiger reserve after Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar and Mukundra Hill Tiger Reserve in Kota.

Upon receiving the formal recognition, the Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate change Bhupender Yadav notified citizens that "the Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary will conserve biodiversity and bring in ecotourism and development to the area.”

How many of you know that reversing the tiger numbers in India is one of the world’s biggest animal conservation success stories. Back in 2008, the numbers of tigers in India had dwindled to just 1400, which was less than half the previous estimate turning the spotlight on the alarming decline of India’s national animal.

Many of us are aware of the challenge of space crunch being faced by the tigers at RTR. And in a bid to tackle the same, the reserve includes the tiger habitat between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) in the northeast and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) on the southern side, ensuring a proper corridor for tigers at RTR.

Notably, the sanctuary faced a setback sometime in 1999, when tigers were believed to have vanished from the sanctuary, with a census in 1997 recording just 3 tigers. The authorities started work on it after the state CM decided to upgrade the forest into a reserve.

The reserve has a total area of 1,501.89 sq km, including the core area spanning an area of 481.90 sq km and a buffer zone of 1,019.98 sq km. The reserve comprises forest blocks of Bhilwara, National Chambal Sanctuary, and the territorial forest block of Bundi and Indargarh, all of which fall under the buffer zone of RTR.