Tiger conservation efforts in India intensified after the Ministry of Environment notified Rajasthan’s Vishdhari Sanctuary as India’s 52nd tiger reserve on May 16.
With this announcement, Rajasthan now has four tiger reserves: Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Sawai Madhopur District, Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota District and Sariska Tiger Reserve in Kota District, Alwar.
As the country expects its wildcat numbers to grow (India currently has 2,967 tigers in 20 states), here’s how the new sanctuary will help preserve it.
Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary, which covers an area of about 252 square kilometres, serves as a buffer for Ranthambore National Park on the Bundi-Nineva Highway in Rajasthan.
Pleased to note Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve has been notified today. The 52nd Reserve of India will conserve biodiversity and bring in ecotourism and development to the area.
Under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi ji, we are committed to preserving our wildlife. pic.twitter.com/8dPCzZEWaF
— Bhupender Yadav (@byadavbjp) May 16, 2022
The area was declared a sanctuary on May 20, 1982, under Section 5 of the Rajasthan Birds and Wildlife Protection Act 1951.
It is home to a large number of wildlife such as the Indian wolf, leopard, striped hyena, sloth bear, golden jackfruit, chinkara, nilgai and fox.
In April 2021, the state government submitted a proposal for the development of the Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary for tigers, which was approved by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in July.
Experts say that although the number of tigers in Ramgarh is not high, it plays an important role in the movement of tigers.