Context: Madhya Pradesh state wildlife board has accorded approval to declare Ratapani wildlife sanctuary as its eighth tiger reserve. It, when notified, will be the first tiger reserve in the country to have proximity to a state capital.

• The state wildlife board’s recommendation will be sent to the Centre for final approval to notify the wildlife sanctuary as the tiger reserve.

About Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary

• Cradled in a portion of Vindhyachal Mountain Ranges, passing through Raisen and Sehore Districts of Madhya Pradesh.

• Existence: The sanctuary was first notified in 1976 and then extended in 1983. 

• Background: The proposal to declare Ratapani wildlife sanctuary as tiger reserve has been begun since 2008. 

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has accorded in principle approval to notify Ratapani wildlife sanctuary as the tiger reserve in 2011. 

• In 2012, the proposal for demarcating the Core and Buffer areas of the Reserve was suggested. 

• Kolar River forms the western boundary of the Sanctuary. 

• Dahod reservoir is another significant water body inside the sanctuary.

• The sanctuary runs parallel on the northern side of Narmada River, the “life line of Madhya Pradesh”.

• Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary: Ratapani reservoir, after which the sanctuary is named, forms a good habitat for crocodiles and other aquatic fauna. 

• Wildlife: The Ratapani wildlife sanctuary has a total 3123 wild animals including 56 tigers and 70 leopards, as per the 2022 census.

• Chinkara, Sloth Bears,   Paradise Flycatcher- the state bird of Madhya Pradesh. 

• Significance: The Sanctuary has Bhimbetka “a group of rock shelters and rock paintings” which is one of the ”World Heritage Site ” declared by UNESCO, and hence, is of International importance. 

• Flora:  Dry deciduous and moist deciduous types.

• Existing Tiger Reserves of Madhya Pradesh: The seven other existing tiger reserves are Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Pench, Sanjay-Dubri, Satpura and Veerangana Durgavati. 

About Tiger Reserves

• Tiger reserves are a protected area designated for the conservation of tigers. However, a tiger reserve may also be a national park or wildlife sanctuary.

• Notified by: Tiger Reserves are notified by State Governments as per provisions of Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 on advice of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

• Statistics: Presently, India has a total of 55 Tiger Reserves.

• Dholpur – Karauli Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan became the 55th Tiger Reserve of India.

• Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand  is the First Tiger Reserve of India.

About National Tiger Conservation Authority

• It is a statutory body under the ministry of Environment, forests and climate change.

• Establishment: In 2005

• Mandate: This body is responsible for taking protective measures for tigers.

• It also ensures low  dependency of local communities on tiger reserves.

• NTCA is responsible for implementing “ project tiger”.

About Wildlife Protection Society of India

• This society was founded in 1994 by Belinda Wright. This body works with government law enforcement agencies across India to catch tiger poachers and traders in tiger parts.

About Tiger

• Tigers are the largest wild cat species in the world.

• Scientific name: Panthera tigris

• Conservation Status: International Union for conservation of Nature (IUCN): Endangered

• 1972 Indian Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I

• Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix I

• Population Update: In 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared that the global tiger population had stabilized and possibly increased.

• Increase in Numbers: Data indicated a potential 40% rise in tiger numbers, from 3,200 in 2015 to 4,500 in 2022, despite severe threats.

About Project Tiger

• This project was launched in 1973 with an objective to save the Bengal tigers.