MP’s latest tiger reserve beset by familiar challenges

After a long wait of over 16 years, Madhya Pradesh’s Ratapani Sanctuary has finally been given higher protection by being declared a tiger reserve. While the National Tiger Conservation Authority gave an in-principle approval in 2008, the Madhya Pradesh government issued the notification for the sanctuary to become a tiger reserve only on December 2. The delay, some say, is the lack of political will and the time taken to implement restrictions and communicate them to the residents.

With the notification, Ratapani became the eighth tiger reserve of the state and 57th of India. Spread over an area of 1,271 square kilometres, which includes the core area of 763 sq km and buffer area of 507 sq km, more than half of its forest is covered by teak (Tectona grandis). The dry deciduous and moist deciduous forest is the home to species such as tiger, leopard, wild dog, sloth bear, hyena, spotted deer and sambar among others.

The new status accorded to the sanctuary is aimed at boosting the tiger conservation programme and also tiger tourism in the state known for the presence of 785 big cats, the highest number of the feline in any state of India. Ratapani’s close proximity to the state capital of Bhopal and Bhimbetka,…

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