Context:
Announced on March 9, 2024, by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. Madhav National Park (Madhya Pradesh) becomes India’s 58th tiger reserve. Madhya Pradesh now has 9 tiger reserves, the highest among all states.
Rationale Behind Tiger Reserves
- Tiger Population Decline
- Estimated 40,000 tigers in early 20th century.
- 1960s: Numbers dropped to 2,000–4,000 due to hunting, poaching, deforestation, and the fur trade.
- Conservation Measures
- 1969: Indian Board for Wild Life (IBWL) recommended a ban on wild cat skin exports.
- 1972: Tiger declared endangered in the Red Data Book by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
- 1973: Project Tiger launched with 9 reserves to protect the species.
Establishing a Tiger Reserve
- Project Tiger (Now NTCA, since 2006) mandates scientific reserve management:
- Core Zone: Strictly protected for tigers and prey.
- Buffer Zone: Managed for sustainable human activities.
- Tiger Conservation Plans (TCPs) include
- Habitat management for tigers, prey, and co-predators.
- Land-use planning to connect reserves via wildlife corridors.
- Community engagement and livelihood support for local populations.
- Approval Process
- State submits a proposal.
- National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) reviews and recommends it.
- State officially notifies the reserve.
Funding for Tiger Conservation
- Project Tiger funding model
- 60% Central Government, 40% State Government (for most states).
- 90% Central funding for Northeastern & Himalayan states.
- Utilization of Funds
- Anti-poaching efforts, habitat improvement, water conservation.
- Human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
- Relocation of villages from critical habitats.
- Rehabilitation of traditional hunting tribes.
- Independent monitoring & evaluation of reserves.
Importance of Madhav National Park
- Originally notified as a National Park in 1956 under the MP National Parks Act, 1955.
- Newly expanded area
- Core Zone: 355 sq km
- Buffer Zone: 4-6 sq km
- Recent Tiger Relocation (2023)
- Had no tigers before 2023.
- One male and two female tigers relocated.
- Population now increased to seven.
- Strategic Location
- Acts as a corridor between Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (Rajasthan) and Kuno National Park (MP).
- Potential competition between tigers and cheetahs for prey.
Madhya Pradesh as India’s Top Tiger State
- Home to 785 tigers, highest in India.
- Major reserves: Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Panna, Satpura, and Pench.
- Kuno-Madhav Forest Division:
- Historically neglected but gaining importance.
- Kuno National Park houses cheetahs imported from Namibia & South Africa.
- Potential future relocation of Asiatic lions from Gir (Gujarat).
- Government re-examining the co-existence of lions and cheetahs in Kuno.
India’s Tiger Conservation Status
- 2023 Tiger Census: Estimated 3,682 tigers.
- 30% of tigers live outside protected reserves, highlighting the need for better corridor connectivity.
Source: TH
