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Dholpur-Karauli: 55th Tiger Reserve in India

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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.

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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:

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

Sr.No Tiger Reserve Declared Year state
1. Corbett Tiger Reserve 1973-74 Uttarakhand
2. Bandipur Tiger Reserve 1973-74 Karnataka
3. Kanha Tiger Reserve 1973-74 Madhya Pradesh
4. Manas Tiger Reserve 1973-74 Assam
5. Melghat Tiger Reserve 1973-74 Maharashtra
6. Palamu Tiger Reserve 1973-74 Jharkhand
7. Ranthambore Tiger Reserve 1973-74 Rajasthan
8. Similipal Tiger Reserve 1973-74 Orissa
9. Sunderban Tiger Reserve 1973-74 West Bengal
10. Periyar Tiger Reserve 1978-79 Kerala
11. Sariska Tiger Reserve 1978-79 Rajasthan
12. Buxa Tiger Reserve 1982-83 West Bengal
13. Indravati Tiger Reserve 1982-83 Chhattisgarh
14. Namdapha Tiger Reserve 1982-83 Arunachal Pradesh
15. Nagarjunasagar – Srisailam Tiger Reserve 1982-83 Andhra Pradesh
16. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve 1987-88 Uttar Pradesh
17. Kalakad Mundantharai Tiger Reserve 1988-89 Tamil Nadu
18. Valmiki Tiger Reserve 1989-90 Bihar
19. Indra Priyadarshini Pench Tiger Reserve 1992-93 Madhya Pradesh
20. Tadoba Andheri Tiger Reserve 1993-94 Maharashtra
21. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve 1993-94 Madhya Pradesh
22. Panna Tiger Reserve 1994-95 Madhya Pradesh
23. Dampa Tiger Reserve 1994-95 Mizoram
24. Bhadra Tiger Reserve 1998-99 Karnataka
25. Pench Tiger Reserve 1998-99 Maharashtra
26. Pakke Tiger Reserve 1999-2000 Arunachal Pradesh
27. Nameri Tiger Reserve 1999-2000 Assam
28. Satpura Tiger Reserve 1999-2000 Madhya Pradesh
29. Anamalai Tiger Reserve 2008-09 Tamil Nadu
30. Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve 2008-09 Chhattisgarh
31. Satkosia Tiger Reserve 2008-09 Orissa
32. Kaziranga Tiger Reserve 2008-09 Assam
33. Achanakmar Tiger Reserve 2008-09 Chhattisgarh
34. Dandeli or Kali Tiger Reserve 2008-09 Karnataka
35. Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve 2008-09 Madhya Pradesh
36. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve 2008-09 Tamil Nadu
37. Nagarhole Tiger Reserve 2008-09 Karnataka
38. Perambikulam Tiger Reserve 2008-09 Kerala
39. Sahyadri Tiger Reserve 2009-10 Maharashtra
40. Biligiri Ranganath Tiger Reserve 2010-11 Karnataka
41. Kaval Tiger Reserve 2012-13 Telangana
42. Sathamangalam Tiger Reserve 2013-14 Tamil Nadu
43. Mukandra Hills Tiger Reserve 2013-14 Rajasthan
44. Navegaon Nagjira Tiger Reserve 2013-14 Maharashtra
45. Amarabad Tiger Reserve 2014 Telangana
46. Pilibhit Tiger Reserve 2014 Uttar Pradesh
47. Bor Tiger Reserve 2014 Maharashtra
48. Rajaji Tiger Reserve 2015 Uttarakhand
49. Oorang Tiger Reserve 2016 Assam
50. Kamlang Tiger Reserve 2016 Arunachal Pradesh
51. Sri Villiputhur Meghamalai Tiger Reserve 2021 Tamil Nadu
52. Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve 2021 Rajasthan
53. Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve 2021 Chhattisgarh
55. Ranipur Tiger Reserve 2022 Uttar Pradesh
55. Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve 2023 Rajasthan

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.
tiger safari dholpur
Photo by Amit Jain

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.
PDF list of all 55 Tiger Reserve in India

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:

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.

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.