Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The state government on Monday issued a notification to declare Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve. It is the eighth tiger reserve of the state. It was long ago that the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had given in principle approval to grant tiger reserve status to Ratapani Sanctuary.
The total area of the tiger reserve will be 1,271.465 square kilometres, including 763.812 sq kms core area and 507.653 sq kms buffer area. This development came close on the heels of the NTCA giving in principle approval to the proposal of tiger reserve status to Shivpuri’s Madhav National Park.
Interacting with Free Press, additional principal chief conservator of forest, wildlife, L Krishnamurthy, said a notification has been issued to declare Ratapani Sanctuary as a tiger reserve. As far as Madhav National Park getting in principle approval from the NTCA is concerned then on issuance of the notification, it will be the ninth tiger reserve of the state. Ratapani Sanctuary has rich wildlife.
It has over 60 tigers apart from other wild animals. The tiger reserve status to the sanctuary will not only strengthen the tiger conservation work but also accelerate eco-tourism activities and provide employment to locals.
Moreover, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav was deeply interested to get the tiger reserve status to Ratapani Sanctuary. In the last wildlife board meeting, he had even rebuked senior forest officers for not being able to do the work needed to achieve tiger reserve status.
As the tiger reserve area is within the sanctuary, there will be no change in the rights of villagers, rather they will benefit economically due to increased tourism activities. Ratapani will also get Central budget for conservation of wild animals.
