56th Tiger Reserve of the Country

The Guru Ghasidas Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh has been declared India’s 56th and the state’s fourth tiger reserve, enhancing conservation under NTCA’s Project Tiger initiative.

About Guru Ghasidas Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve

• Location: Northern Chhattisgarh; borders Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
• Landscape: Nestled in the Chota Nagpur plateau and partly in the Baghelkhand plateau.
• Size: Third-largest tiger reserve in India, after Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh) and Manas (Assam).
• Connectivity: Linked to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) in the west and Palamau Tiger Reserve (Jharkhand) in the east.
• Rivers: Origin of major rivers like Hasdeo, Gopad, and Baranga; catchment for Neur, Bijadhur, Banas, and Rehand rivers.
• Flora: Sub-tropical and deciduous forests dominated by Sal (Sakhua) trees.

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About Project Tiger

• Project Tiger is a wildlife conservation effort launched in 1973 to protect India’s endangered tiger population. It aims to ensure a viable tiger population in its natural habitats.
• Objective: Conservation of tigers through designated protected areas (tiger reserves).
• Integration: Tiger reserves may overlap with national parks or wildlife sanctuaries (e.g., Sariska Tiger Reserve).
• Legal Basis: Established under Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Implementation: State governments notify reserves with advice from NTCA.

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National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

• Established: 2006 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Role: Oversees tiger conservation efforts across India.
• Composition:
• • Chairperson: Union Minister for MoEFCC.
  • Vice-Chairperson: Minister of State for MoEFCC.
  • Members: Three MPs, MoEFCC Secretary, and others.

Key Facts about Tiger Reserves in India

• Total Tiger Reserves: 56
• State with Most Tiger Reserves: Madhya Pradesh (11)
• Tiger Reserve with Highest Number of Tigers:  Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand –  (252 Tigers)
• State with Most Tigers: Madhya Pradesh has the maximum number (785) of tigers in the country, followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444), according to the data.