Proposal to develop Ramgarh Vishdhari as tiger reserve
JAIPUR: The state forest department has sent a proposal to Rajasthan government for developing Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary in Bundi (adjoining RTR) as Tiger Reserve, people familiar with the matter said.
At present, the state has three tiger reserves with over 85 big cats at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR) in Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR) in Alwar, and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) in Kota.
Chief minister Ashok Gehlot, while speaking on finance and appropriation bill 2019-20 had announced developing Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve.
The department proposes that developing Ramgarh Vishdhari area as tiger reserve will prove beneficial for big cats as it will not come as additional habitat for tigers but improve the eco-system, and strengthen tourism. “The proposal after approval from the state government will be submitted to National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA),” said a forest official.
The proposal suggests that the sanctuary is spread out in 1071 sq km areas, of which 302 sqkm will be made critical tiger habitat of tiger reserve and rest as buffer zone. The sanctuary houses flora and fauna of various kinds - Leopard, Sambhar, Wild boar, Chinkara, Sloth bear, Indian Wolf, Hyena, Jackal, and Fox can be seen at this sanctuary. It was founded in 1982.
The official said the sanctuary is adjoining RTR and will prove to be beneficial for dispersing tigers.
He informed historically, the sanctuary is known as ‘breeding place of tigers’ – as per the 1985 census report, there were nine tigers and in the recent past, in 2013, T-62 strayed out of RTR to Ramgarh and stayed for one and half year and returned. In 2018, T-91 strayed out of RTR and stayed here for four months and later was shifted to MHTR.
He said for the last six months there is a movement of tiger T-110 and T-115 along the periphery of the Indergarh buffer area of RTR, which is adjacent to Ramgarh sanctuary. This shows that tigers are migrating here naturally.
The forest department will increase the prey base, strengthening management and creating buffer zone
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Since there is movement of male tiger in the periphery of the proposed tiger reserve, a female tigress can be translocated to the area. Tigresses usually not venture into vast area and its presence will help to settle the male tiger venturing into the area.
The official said developing sanctuary to reserve will not only provide another habitat to the excess tiger at RTR but will be beneficial f or Bundi with increase in water, forest and tourism. “The forest department will increase the prey base, strengthening management and creating buffer zone are some of the steps to be taken by the state before the NTCA gives approval to relocate tigers and notifying the sanctuary as Reserve,” he said.
The RTR administration has also in a recent report to department has suggested relocation of around 10 tigers. Highlighting unexpected increase in tiger pop
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ulation RTR, the report states - the tiger population at the Reserve has increased to 62, which comprises 27 (male), 25 (female) and 10 cubs. The population of the tigers is more than the carrying capacity of the Reserve, because of which the bordering areas witness tiger-human conflict as the young tigers constantly try to establish their territory. In such situation there is immediate need of relocating 10 tigers from the RTR. Till date, in the process of relocation, a tiger T-24 has been shifted to Udaipur, one to Sariska and another to Mukundra. Earlier, also six tigers had been relocated to Sariska. It would be difficult to curb incidents of tiger-human conflict in future, if the tiger aren’t relocated.