BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Government has officially announced the establishment of the "Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve," marking the seventh tiger reserve in the state and 54th in the country.
The declaration was made through an official notification issued on Thursday.
This newly designated Tiger Reserve will encompass areas within the Nauradehi (Wild Life) & Veerangana Drugavati Sanctuary, recognized for their ecological significance in preserving biodiversity, including flora, fauna, geology, and zoology. Presently, the sanctuary is home to approximately 15 tigers, making it a vital habitat for the endangered species.
The declaration is in accordance with the provisions of clause (ii) of sub-section (iv) of section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972). The combined protected area, formed by notifying Nauradehi and Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuaries, comprises two core areas. Core Area-1 spans an expansive 1390.036 square kilometers, while Core Area-2 encompasses 23.97 square kilometers.
The newly established Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve covers an extensive area of 2,339 square kilometers and is located approximately 20 kilometers from Bhopal. It spans three districts—Narsinghpur, Sagar, and Damoh.
Madhya Pradesh is renowned for its six existing tiger reserves: Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Pench, Sanjay Dubri, and Satpura. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recently granted preliminary approval for the creation of this new tiger reserve during a meeting of its technical committee. The establishment of this reserve is a crucial requirement for the Ken-Betwa River linking project, adding another layer of significance to its preservation.
However, there is currently some uncertainty regarding whether the new tiger reserve will serve as a potential habitat for Project Cheetah. A scientific study conducted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) identified Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary as a suitable location for the translocation of cheetahs. Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Bhupendra Yadav, highlighted Nauradehi as a prospective release site for cheetahs in the near future. The relocation of cheetahs to Nauradehi depends on the completion of on-ground preparations outlined in the Cheetah Action Plan.
Nauradehi Sanctuary, spanning nearly 1200 square kilometers across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, is already being prepared to accommodate cheetahs. An extensive study conducted by a team from the Wildlife Institute of India within Nauradehi deemed it suitable for cheetahs based on factors such as climate, grassland characteristics, cave availability for shelter, water sources, and the presence of prey species such as chital, sambar, deer, and nilgai. Experts have highlighted that Nauradehi's grasslands are better suited for cheetahs compared to Kuno National Park, with medium-height grass offering a balance between cover for stalking prey and visibility for spotting prey from a distance.
Moreover, Nauradehi Sanctuary has been a safe haven for tigers, with Project Tiger initiated in April 2018 when it had only one tiger; today, there are 15. The sanctuary has maintained a remarkable record of tiger safety, with no losses reported in the past five years. Ten villages have already been relocated outside Nauradehi, further enhancing its suitability as a potential cheetah habitat.
