Everything you need to know about Chhattisgarh’s newest tiger reserve

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Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve:

India’s 56th Tiger Reserve: Notified earlier this month by the Chhattisgarh government.
Significance: Expected to help boost Chhattisgarh’s dwindling tiger population and serve as a potential site for reintroducing cheetahs.
- Proposal to bring tigresses from Bandhavgarh and Sanjay Dubri reserves in MP.
Location: Spread across four districts—Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur (MCB), Korea, Surajpur, and Balrampur—in the northern tribal Sarguja region of Chhattisgarh.
Area: Covers 2,829.387 sq km, making it India’s third-largest tiger reserve.
Geographic Connections: Lies between Bandhavgarh (MP) and Palamau (Jharkhand) tiger reserves; adjacent to Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve (MP).

Wildlife and Habitat:

Fauna: Tigers, elephants, sloth bears, leopards, wolves, vultures, cobras, nilgai, hyenas, and more.
Flora: Rich vegetation, including sal, saja, dhavda, and kusum.
Topography: Features hills, plateaus, valleys, and a river system, creating a diverse habitat.

Chhattisgarh’s Tiger Population:

Current Status:
- 30 tigers (including three sub-adults and two cubs) in the state.
- 5-6 tigers currently inhabit the new reserve.
Decline: Population fell from 46 in 2014 to 17 in 2022, per the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP):

Infrastructure:
- Enhanced road and wireless connectivity for patrolling.
- Development of grasslands and water bodies to increase the prey base.
- Translocation of cheetals and wild boars.
Corridor Strengthening:
- Ensure tiger migration between Bandhavgarh and Sanjay Dubri via two corridors.
- Focus on mitigating human-wildlife conflict.

Source: IE