In India, the tiger reserves are protected under the "Project Tiger" which in turn is administered by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
At the time when the National Tiger Conservation Authority was formed on 4th September 2006, there were only 9 reserves now it has been increased to 55 spanning over 19 states.
The main purpose of the tiger reserve is to preserve endangered Bengal tigers from extinction and to protect critical tiger habitat, as India is the home to 80% of the world's Bengal tiger population.
The tiger reserves are divided on the basis of the core/buffer strategy.
- The core areas are areas that have the legal status of a sanctuary or a national park.
- Buffer areas are the peripheral areas that are a mix of forest and non-forest land which can be managed as multi-purpose areas.
Basic Facts
- Number of Tiger Reserves in India – 55.
- Largest no. of Tigers are found in – Madhya Pradesh (785).
- 2nd – Karnataka (563).
- 3rd – Uttarakhand (560).
- Largest Tiger Reserve in India – Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (Telangana, 3,728 km2,).
- Smallest Tiger Reserve in India – Bor (Maharashtra).
- State with most no. of Tiger reserves in India – Madhya Pradesh (7).
- Maharashtra retains second place with 6 tiger reserves.
- First Tiger Reserve in Kerala – Periyar Tiger Reserve.
- 10th Tiger Reserve in India – Periyar, Kerala.
- 36th Tiger Reserve in India – Parambikulam, Kerala.
- National Animal of India – Tiger (Bengal Tiger).
- Tiger was adopted as National animal in – April 1973.
- Scientific name of Tiger – Panthera Tigris.
- National Tiger Conservation Authority was formed in – 4th September 2006.
- National Park which has the highest density of tigers in the world – Kaziranga National Park.
- Nandankanan Tiger Reserve (Odisha)is famous for white tigers.
- Biosphere Tiger reserves – Manas (Assam), Similipal (Orissa) & Sunderbans (West Bengal).
- Only tiger reserve which is also a World Heritage Site – Manas Tiger Reserve.
- 53rd Tiger Reserve of India – Guru Ghasidas National Park (Sanjay National Park) & Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary (Chhattisgarh).
- International Tiger Day / Global Tiger Day – July 29.
- International Tiger Day was observed for the first time in 2010 at the St. Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia.
- First Tiger Summit – St Petersburg, Russia (2010).
- The First Dark Sky Park in India – Pench Tiger Reserve (Nagpur).
- The First Melanistic Tiger Safari Park in the World – Similipal Tiger Reserve (Odisha).
- 55th Tiger Reserve in India – Dholpur – Karauli Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan).
Project Tiger
- Tiger Reserves in India are governed by – Project Tiger.
- Purpose – To preserve Bengal tigers from extinction.
- Project Tiger was launched in April 1973.
- (Under the tenure of Indira Gandhi) with 9 reserves.
- Project Tiger was launched in – Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand.
- Total area covered – 71027.10 km².
- Project Tiger is administered by – National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- Established in – December 2005.
- Following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.
- It was given statutory status by the 2006 amendment of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
- Chairman – Environment Minister.
Tiger Census in India
- Conducted every 4 years under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- The first was conducted in 2006, followed by 2010, 2014, and in 2018.
- The process used to take the census of Tigers – Pugmark
- As per the Tiger Census of 2018, India has now 2,967 tigers.
- Best-managed tiger reserves – Pench Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh) & Periyar sanctuary (Kerala)
- M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers - Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) software developed by NTCA in 2010.
Tiger translocation project
- First successful Tiger relocation carried out in – Rajasthan (2008).
- tiger from Ranthambore was relocated to Sariska tiger reserve.
- First Inter-State Tiger relocation programme was carried out in – Madhya Pradesh to Odisha
- Status – failed.
- NTCA has suspended the Tiger translocation project after this failure.
Global Tiger Recovery Programme
- Declared at the first tiger summit @ Russia.
- Aim – to reverse the rapid decline of tigers, and also aim to double their numbers by 2022.
- 13 Tiger range countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand & Vietnam.
Latest Tiger Reserves in India
As of February 2024, there are 55 tiger reserves in India. They are:
- 51st Tiger Reserve – Kamlang Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh (2018)
- 52nd Tiger Reserve – Srivilliputtur Megamalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu (2021)
- 53rd Tiger Reserve – Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan (2021)
- 54th Tiger Reserve – Ranipur Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh (2022)
- 55th Tiger Reserve – Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve (2023)
List of Tiger Reserves in India
| Sl. No. | Name of Tiger Reserve | State | Year of Inclusion under Project Tiger |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve | Andhra Pradesh | 1982-1983 |
| 2. | Kamlang Tiger Reserve | Arunachal Pradesh | 2016-2017 |
| 3. | Namdapha Tiger Reserve | 1982- 1983 | |
| 4. | Pakke Tiger Reserve | 1999-2000 | |
| 5. | Kaziranga Tiger Reserve | Assam | 2008-2009 |
| 6. | Manas Tiger Reserve | 1973-1974 | |
| 7. | Nameri Tiger Reserve | 1999-2000 | |
| 8. | Orang Tiger Reserve | 2016 | |
| 9. | Valmiki Tiger Reserve | Bihar | 1989-1990 |
| 10. | Achanakmar Tiger Reserve | Chhattisgarh | 2008-2009 |
| 11. | Indravati Tiger Reserve | 1982-1983 | |
| 12. | Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve | 2008-2009 | |
| 13. | Palamau Tiger Reserve | Jharkhand | 1973-1974 |
| 14. | Bandipur Tiger Reserve | Karnataka | 1973-1974 |
| 15. | Bhadra Tiger Reserve | 1994-1995 | |
| 16. | Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserve | 2010-2011 | |
| 17. | Dandeli-Anshi (Kali) Tiger Reserve | 2008-2009 | |
| 18. | Nagarahole Tiger Reserve | 2008-2009 | |
| 19. | Parambikulam Tiger Reserve | Kerala | 2008-2009 |
| 20. | Periyar Tiger Reserve | 1978-1979 | |
| 21. | Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve | Madhya Pradesh | 1993-1994 |
| 22. | Kanha Tiger Reserve | 1973-1974 | |
| 23. | Panna Tiger Reserve | 1993-1994 | |
| 24. | Pench Tiger Reserve | 1992-1993 | |
| 25. | Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve | 2008-2009 | |
| 26. | Satpura Tiger Reserve | 1999-2000 | |
| 27. | Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve | 2023 | |
| 28. | Bor Tiger Reserve | Maharashtra | 2014 |
| 29. | Melghat Tiger Reserve | 1973-1974 | |
| 30. | Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve | 2013-2014 | |
| 31. | Pench Tiger Reserve | 1998-1999 | |
| 32. | Sahyadri Tiger Reserve | 2009-2010 | |
| 33. | Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve | 1993-1994 | |
| 34. | Dampa Tiger Reserve | Mizoram | 1994-1995 |
| 35. | Satkosia Tiger Reserve | Odisha | 2008-2009 |
| 36. | Similipal Tiger Reserve | 1973-1974 | |
| 37. | Mukandra Hills Tiger Reserve | Rajasthan | 2013-2014 |
| 38. | Dholpur – Karauli Tiger Reserve | 2023 | |
| 39. | Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve | 2022 | |
| 40. | Ranthambore Tiger Reserve | 1973-1974 | |
| 41. | Sariska Tiger Reserve | 1978-1979 | |
| 42. | Anamalai Tiger Reserve | Tamil Nadu | 2008-2009 |
| 43. | Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve | 1988-1989 | |
| 44. | Mudumalai Tiger Reserve | 2008-2009 | |
| 45. | Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve | 2013-2014 | |
| 46. | Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve | 2020-2021 | |
| 47. | Amrabad Tiger Reserve | Telangana | 2014-2015 |
| 48. | Kawal Tiger Reserve | 2012-2013 | |
| 49. | Dudhwa Tiger Reserve | Uttar Pradesh | 1987-1988 |
| 50. | Pilibhit Tiger Reserve | 2014 | |
| 51. | Ranipur Tiger Reserve | 2022-2023 | |
| Amanagarh buffer* | 2012-2013 | ||
| 52. | Corbett Tiger Reserve | Uttarakhand | 1973-1974 |
| 53. | Rajaji Tiger Reserve | 2015 | |
| 54. | Buxa Tiger Reserve | West Bengal | 1982-1983 |
| 55. | Sunderbans Tiger Reserve | 1973-1974 |
SideNotes:
- First National Park – Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand (1936).
- Hailey National Park was renamed as Jim Corbett National Park.
- Another nation with Tiger as the National Animal – Bangladesh.
- Kaziranga National Park was started in the year – 2006.
- National Park having world’s largest population of Indian one-horned rhinoceroses – Kaziranga National Park.
- As per IUCN report in 2022, tigers become extinct in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.