Why in News?

• Madhya Pradesh government, under Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, officially notified the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve, marking a significant but long-delayed move in tiger conservation.
• With an estimated population of 90 tigers, Ratapani now becomes the state's eighth tiger reserve.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Tiger Reserves of India
• About Ratapani
• Conclusion

Tiger Reserves of India:

• About:
  • The tiger reserves in India were set up as a part of Project Tiger initiated in 1973 and are administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) of Government of India.
  • As of December 2024, there are 57 protected areas that have been designated as tiger reserves.
  • There were 3,682 wild tigers in India (as of 2023), which is almost 75% of the world's wild tiger population.
• Tiger reserves consist of: A core area which includes part(s) of protected areas such as a national park or a wildlife sanctuary and a buffer zone which is a mix of forested and non-forested land.
• Goal: Project tiger is aimed at performing the necessary activities to ensure viability of the tiger population in the core area and to promote a balance between the existence of people and animals in the buffer zones.
• Declaration: State governments notify areas as tiger reserves based on the NTCA's recommendations.
• Maintenance:
  • As per the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the state governments are responsible for preparing a Tiger Conservation Plan.
  • Such a plan includes planning and management of notified areas and maintaining the requisite competent staff to ensure the protection of the tiger reserve.

About Ratapani:

• Location: Spanning Raisen and Sehore districts, Ratapani serves as a critical tiger habitat, with tigers migrating from nearby Satpura ranges.
• Biodiversity and challenges:
  • Habitat encroachment and insufficient prey bases led to tigers straying into populated areas, escalating conflicts.
  • The sanctuary has witnessed increased tiger-human interactions, emphasising the need for protection and management.
• Declaration as tiger reserve:
  • The notification comes amid a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by wildlife activist, who criticised the government’s delay despite receiving in-principle approval from the NTCA in 2008.
  • The PIL highlighted issues like increasing human-wildlife conflicts, degradation of tiger habitats, and encroachments due to delayed action.
  • The State Wildlife Board (SWB) approved projects like a coal-based power plant and railway lines, jeopardising the proposed reserve’s ecosystem.
• Challenges ahead:
  • Strengthening protection measures: Anti-poaching strategies and defined boundaries must be established.
  • Restoring ecosystems: Enhancing prey bases and curbing encroachments are essential to ensure a sustainable tiger population.
  • Community engagement: Collaboration with local communities is crucial to promote coexistence and minimise conflicts.

Conclusion:

• The Ratapani Tiger Reserve’s official notification marks a victory for conservation efforts but also highlights years of bureaucratic delays and ecological negligence.
• Moving forward, effective management and sustained efforts will be critical in preserving Madhya Pradesh’s rich wildlife heritage.