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Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve
Context:
Chhattisgarh has recently announced the establishment of the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve region as India’s 56th tiger reserve.
More on News:
The reserve aims to improve Chhattisgarh’s dwindling tiger population and could potentially serve as a site for the reintroduction of cheetahs (last spotted here in the 1940s).
Current Tiger Population in Chhattisgarh
- Chhattisgarh has 30 tigers currently, including 3 sub-adults and 2 cubs.
- There are 5 to 6 tigers at the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve.
- The tiger population in the state has decreased from 46 in 2014 to 17 in 2022, according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) report released in 2023.
Historical Background:
- The decision to declare the area as a tiger reserve was initially made in 2012.
- The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA’s) in-principle approval came in 2014, with a proposal sent by the state in August 2014.
- Following the recommendation of the State Wildlife Board and the approval of the NTCA and the Union Ministry of Forest and Climate Change, the cabinet has decided to designate the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve.
- Tiger reserves in India are notified by State Governments under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended in 2022), based on the advice of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Overview of the New Tiger Reserve:
- The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve is the fourth tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh, following Achanakmar, Indravati, and Udanti Sitanadi.
- Location: Situated in the northern tribal Sarguja region of Chhattisgarh, covering four districts: Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Korea, Surajpur, and Balrampur.
- Size: 2,829.387 sq km, making it the third-largest tiger reserve in India after Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh and Manas in Assam.
- Geography: It is situated in the Chota Nagpur and Baghelkhand plateaus, with proximity to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh (west) and Palamau Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand (east), and is contiguous with Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
- Rivers: It serves as the origin of major rivers like Hasdeo Gopad and Baranga and acts as a catchment area for rivers such as Neur, Bijadhur, Banas, Rehand, and other smaller water bodies.
- Wildlife: Including tigers, elephants, sloth bears, vultures, peacocks, wolves, leopards, otters, chitals, jackals, nilgai, bison, hyenas, langurs, cobras, and a wide range of flora such flora like sal, saja, dhavda, kusum, etc.
Chhattisgarh’s Plans to Boost Tiger Population:
- Introducing Tigresses: Chhattisgarh plans to bring in tigresses from Bandhavgarh and Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserves in Madhya Pradesh to balance the proportion of male tigers and improve breeding.
- Other Conservation Measures:
- Formation of rapid response teams for swift action.
- Building strong relationships with villagers to ensure support for conservation efforts.
- Informer-based wildlife protection strategies.
- Deployment of full-time guards to protect the reserve.
Comprehensive Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP) for Conservation:
- Road and Wireless Connectivity: Improved infrastructure to aid patrolling in the hilly terrain (more than 50% of the reserve).
- Prey Base Enhancement: Efforts to increase the prey population for tigers through the development of grasslands and water bodies and translocation of cheetal and wild boars from other areas in the state.
- Strengthening Wildlife Corridors: Focus on the corridors between Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, especially as tiger populations in MP increase.
- Including Grassland development and improving water resources. Mitigating human-wildlife conflict to ensure smooth tiger migration between reserves.
- Community Awareness: Educating villagers in the 42 sparsely populated villages within the reserve to prevent animal-human conflicts. Villagers will have the option to relocate voluntarily and will be prioritised for employment opportunities related to the reserve.
- Training for tourism-related businesses, including tour guides, homestays, and handicrafts.
Future Considerations:
- Cheetah Reintroduction: Wildlife activist suggests reintroducing cheetahs in the reserve, following similar efforts in Madhya Pradesh.
- Preventing Encroachments: Ensuring that there are no encroachments within the reserve to protect its wildlife and ecosystem.
