August 23, 2023 11 min to read

Dholpur-Karauli: 55th Tiger Reserve in India

India is home to 75% of the world’s tiger population. It’s amazing to see how much effort is being put into conserving this species and the recent tiger census and the establishment of the 55th tiger reserve in Dholpur-Karauli, Rajasthan are great examples of these efforts.

Because of the tiger conservation efforts, the Tiger population in India has increased from 1411 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2023 which means it increased by more than double in just 17 years. This is a great achievement for India and it shows that India is doing a great job in tiger conservation.

In this article, we will discuss the latest tiger census and the new tiger reserve in Dholpur-Karauli, Rajasthan and how it will affect the wildlife and tourism in Rajasthan.

Table of Contents

• Table of Contents
• Tiger Reserves of India - Latest Tiger Reserve in India
• What is NTCA?
• What is Project Tiger?
• Dholpur Tiger Reserve - 55th tiger reserve in India
• Impact of the new tiger reserve in Dholpur-Karauli, Rajasthan
• List of all 55 Tiger Reserves of India
• Wildlife Facts
• How it will affect Rajasthan?
• Questions and Answers 🤔
  • 1. How many tiger reserves are there in India?
  • 2. Which is the India’s largest tiger reserve?
  • 3. How many tiger reserves are there in Rajasthan?
  • 4. Which was the first tiger reserve in India?
  • 5. Which was the 53rd tiger reserve in India?
  • 6. Which tiger reserve is biggest tiger reserve in India?
• Challenges and Solutions for Tiger Conservation
• Author’s Opinion

Tiger Reserves of India - Latest Tiger Reserve in India

India is home to a significant number of tiger reserves, with a total of 55 spread across 18 states. Rajasthan is particularly rich in this regard, boasting five such reserves.

The newest addition to the state’s collection of tiger reserves is the Dholpur-Karauli, which happens to be the country’s 55th tiger reserve. This development is a testament to India’s commitment to preserving its natural heritage and wildlife.

What is NTCA?

The establishment of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in December 2005 marked a significant turning point for tiger conservation efforts in India.

The Tiger Task Force had recommended the creation of NTCA, which was established by the Prime Minister of India. The primary objective of NTCA was to reorganize the management of Project Tiger and India’s various Tiger Reserves. This move was aimed at ensuring that the conservation efforts were more effective and sustainable in the long run.

What is Project Tiger?

In 1973, the Indian government initiated Project Tiger, an effort to safeguard tigers from becoming extinct. The main objectives of the project were to protect the tigers and their habitats from threats such as poaching and habitat destruction. Initially, the project was implemented in 9 tiger reserves, but it has since expanded to include 53 reserves across 18 states in India.

After 50 years, Project Tiger has been a huge success story. The tiger population has increased from 1,411 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2023, making India a global leader in tiger conservation.

Dholpur Tiger Reserve - 55th tiger reserve in India

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has approved the creation of a new tiger reserve in Dholpur-Karauli, Rajasthan. The new tiger reserve will be the 55th tiger reserve in India and the 5th in Rajasthan. There were 4 tiger reserves in Rajasthan before Dholpur-Karauli. The 4 tiger reserves in Rajasthan are:

• Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
• Sariska Tiger Reserve
• Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve
• Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve.

The new tiger reserve is situated in the 1058 sq km area of the Dholpur and Karauli districts of Rajasthan. Currently, there are 9 tigers protected in the area and the tiger population is expected to be increased in the future. The new tiger reserve will be a protected area and will be managed by the forest department of Rajasthan.

Dholpur tiger reserve also opens the possibility for “Kumbhalgarh” to be the 6th tiger reserve in Rajasthan and the 55th tiger reserve, in India in the future.

“There are 9 tigers in the area the area is suitable for the tiger reserve and the tiger population will increase in the future. The protected natural tiger corridor will increase from Ramgarh Vishdhari- RTR-Dholpur to Mukundra – the stretch would be around 4,000 km,” said the official from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)

Impact of the new tiger reserve in Dholpur-Karauli, Rajasthan

The establishment of a new tiger reserve in Dholpur-Karauli, Rajasthan will impact 50 neighboring villages. In order to minimize conflict between humans and wildlife, and to safeguard the welfare of animals, the government has made the decision to relocate the affected villages in anticipation of the upcoming developments.

To compensate those who will be affected, the government is offering either 15 lakh rupees per person or equivalent land in the nearby area. This move has been taken to ensure that the affected individuals are provided with fair compensation and can relocate safely and securely.

List of all 55 Tiger Reserves of India

Wildlife Facts

Here are some interesting facts about wildlife in India that you might not know:

1. Did you know that India is home to both the Asiatic Lion and the Royal Bengal Tiger, making it the only country in the world with both species?
2. India is home to 75% of the world’s tiger population.
3. India has 55 tiger reserves in 18 states and 5 tiger reserves in Rajasthan.

How it will affect Rajasthan?

The new tiger reserve in Dholpur-Karauli will have a positive impact on Rajasthan in many ways. Here are some of the ways in which it will affect Rajasthan:

1. There will be more options for tourists to visit Rajasthan and see the tigers which will eventually increase tourism in Rajasthan.
2. It will also increase employment opportunities in Rajasthan as more people will be required to manage the tiger reserve such as forest guards, guides, taxi drivers, food vendors, guest house staff, etc.
3. Tiger is essential for the ecosystem and the tiger reserve will help in maintaining the ecosystem of Rajasthan.
4. It will also help in increasing the tiger population in Rajasthan and increase the tiger corridor area up to 4000 sq km.
5. It will also help to ensure the safety of the tigers in Rajasthan as the tiger reserve will be a protected area.

Questions and Answers 🤔

Some of the most frequently asked questions about the tiger reserve in India are answered below:

1. How many tiger reserves are there in India?

There are 55 tiger reserves in India in 2023 and the latest tiger reserve in India is Dholpur-Karauli, Rajasthan.

2. Which is the India’s largest tiger reserve?

Dholpur-Karauli is the latest addition to India’s network of tiger reserves added on 22nd August 2023.

3. How many tiger reserves are there in Rajasthan?

There are 5 tiger reserves in Rajasthan, Dholpur-Karauli is the latest addition to the tiger reserves in Rajasthan. Other tiger reserves in Rajasthan are:

• Ranthambore Tiger Reserve
• Sariska Tiger Reserve- Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve
• Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve

4. Which was the first tiger reserve in India?

The first tiger reserve in India was Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand. It was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park and was renamed in 1957 after Jim Corbett, a famous hunter and conservationist.

5. Which was the 53rd tiger reserve in India?

Guru Ghasidas National Park was the 53rd tiger reserve in India. It was declared the 53rd Tiger Reserve in India on October 5th, 2021.

6. Which tiger reserve is biggest tiger reserve in India?

The biggest tiger reserve in India is Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Andhra Pradesh. It is spread over 3,296 km2.

Challenges and Solutions for Tiger Conservation

Still, After creation the new tiger reserve in Dholpur-Karauli, Rajasthan, there are many challenges for tiger conservation in India. Here are some of the challenges for tiger conservation in India.

• Human-Wildlife Conflict
• Poaching
• Habitat Loss
• Climate Change
• Lack of Awareness

Author’s Opinion

Tigers are the most beautiful and powerful animals in the world. It’s our responsibility to protect them. India is doing a great job in tiger conservation. What do you think about the tiger conservation efforts in India? Let me know in the comments below.