India Welcomes 54th Tiger Reserve: Dholpur-Karauli in Rajasthan

In a significant stride towards wildlife conservation, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has recently given its nod for the establishment of the 54th tiger reserve in the districts of Karauli and Dholpur in Rajasthan. This landmark decision amplifies the ongoing efforts to safeguard the rich biodiversity within the state. The upcoming Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve will join the esteemed ranks of Mukundra Hills, Ranthambore, Sariska, and Ramgarh Vishdhari as the fifth tiger reserve in Rajasthan.

Union Environment Minister, Bhupender Yadav, expressed his excitement about this development on a social media platform. He emphasized that the creation of the Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve marks a monumental stride forward for wildlife preservation in Rajasthan. Yadav called upon the public to embrace their role as custodians of this invaluable ecosystem and its majestic tiger population.

At the same time, authorities have also granted in-principle approval to designate Kumbhalgarh in Rajasthan as another Tiger Reserve. Yadav shared his satisfaction about this news as well, underlining that this initiative is a significant stride towards wildlife conservation, promising a brighter future for both tigers and overall biodiversity in Rajasthan.

54th Tiger Reserve

Yadav further underscored the positive ripple effect of these measures on local employment opportunities through ecotourism.

On August 4th, the NTCA officially endorsed the proposal of 54th tiger reserve, which was subsequently granted preliminary approval by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The upcoming Kumbhalgarh Tiger Reserve, sprawling across an expanse of 2800 square kilometers, holds the promise of being a formidable force in the realm of wildlife protection.

Diya Kumari, a prominent member of the NTCA and the Member of Parliament from Rajsamand, warmly welcomed the in-principle approval. She expressed her unwavering dedication to overcoming the challenges in realizing this visionary project. Kumari also expressed optimism about the impending establishment of the Kumbhalgarh Tiger Reserve.

Government data provides encouraging insights, showcasing a notable increase in India's tiger population from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022, reflecting an annual growth rate of 6 percent. According to reports, Madhya Pradesh leads the tally with the highest number of tigers (785), followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444). This underscores a remarkable 50 percent surge in the tiger population over the past four years.

The reports further highlight Rajasthan's remarkable strides in tiger conservation, with the state's tiger population rising from 32 in 2006 to 88 in 2022.