Tiger reserves of India

Tiger conservation programme in India

The tiger reserves in India were set up as a part of Project Tiger initiated in 1973 and are administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority of Government of India. As of March 2025, there are 58 protected areas that have been designated as tiger reserves. As of 2023, there were 3,682 wild tigers in India, which is almost 75% of the world's wild tiger population.

## Goal

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As per the section 38 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the state governments are responsible preparing a Tiger Conservation Plan which includes planning and management of notified areas and maintaining the requisite competent staff to ensure the protection of the tiger reserve and providing inputs for maintaining a viable population of tigers, co-predators and prey animals.[1][2]

## Tiger population

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See also: List of Indian states by wildlife population

State wise tiger population (2018)

In 2006, it was estimated that there were 1,411 tigers living in the wild, the lowest ever recorded.[3] The 2010 National Tiger Assessment estimated the total population of wild tigers in India at 1,706. As per Ministry of Environment and Forests, the wild tiger population in India stood at 2,226 in 2014 with an increase of 30.5% since the 2010 estimate.[4]

In 2018, according to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, there were an estimated 2,967 wild tigers in existence in India. The wild tiger population increased to 3,682 as of 2022.[5] As India is home to majority of the global wild tiger population, the increase in population of tigers in India played a major role in driving up global populations as well; the number of wild tigers globally rose from 3,159 in 2010 to 3,890 in 2016 according to World Wildlife Fund and Global Tiger Forum.[6]

## Tiger reserves

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Tiger reserves were set up as a part of Project Tiger initiated in 1973 and are administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority of Government of India. Tiger reserves consist of a core area which includes part(s) of protected areas such as a national park or a wildlife sanctuary and a buffer zone which is a mix of forested and non-forested land. Project tiger is aimed at performing the necessary activities to ensure viability of tiger population in the core area and to promote a balance between the existence of people and animals in the buffer zones.[7]

In 1973, nine protected areas were initially designated as tiger reserves. By the late 1980s, the initial nine reserves covering an area of 9,115 km2 (3,519 sq mi) had been increased to 15 reserves covering an area of 24,700 km2 (9,500 sq mi). More than 1100 tigers were estimated to inhabit the reserves by 1984.[8] By 1997, 23 tiger reserves encompassed an area of 33,000 km2 (13,000 sq mi).[9] As of March 2025, there are 58 protected areas that have been designated as tiger reserves.[10]

List of tiger reserves[11][12] Name  | Inclusion | Last Notified | State  | Tiger population (2023)[5] | Core area (km2)  | Buffer area (km2)  | Total area (km2)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Bandipur | 1973–74  | 2007  | Karnataka | 150  | 872.24  | 584.06  | 1,456.3
Corbett | 1973–74  | 2010  | Uttarakhand | 260  | 821.99  | 466.32  | 1,288.31
Kanha | 1973–74  | 2007  | Madhya Pradesh | 105  | 917.43  | 1,134.36  | 2,051.79
Manas | 1973–74  | 2008  | Assam | 58  | 526.22  | 2,310.88  | 2,837.10
Melghat | 1973–74  | 2007  | Maharashtra | 57  | 1,500.49  | 1,268.03  | 2,768.52
Palamau | 1973–74  | 2012  | Jharkhand | 5  | 414.08  | 715.85  | 1,129.93
Ranthambore | 1973–74  | 2007  | Rajasthan | 57  | 1,113.36  | 297.92  | 1,411.29
Similipal | 1973–74  | 2007  | Odisha | 16  | 1,194.75  | 1,555.25  | 2,750
Sunderbans | 1973–74  | 2007  | West Bengal | 100  | 1,699.62  | 885.27  | 2,584.89
Periyar | 1978–79  | 2007  | Kerala | 30  | 881  | 44  | 925
Sariska | 1978–79  | 2007  | Rajasthan | 19  | 881.11  | 332.23  | 1,213.34
Buxa | 1982–83  | 2009  | West Bengal | 1  | 390.58  | 367.32  | 757.90
Indravati | 1982–83  | 2009  | Chhattisgarh | 1  | 1,258.37  | 1,540.70  | 2,799.07
Namdapha | 1982–83  | 1987  | Arunachal Pradesh | 1  | 1,807.82  | 245.00  | 2,052.82
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam | 1982–83  | 2007  | Andhra Pradesh | 58  | 2,595.72  | 700.59  | 3,296.31
Dudhwa | 1987–88  | 2010  | Uttar Pradesh | 135  | 1,093.79  | 1,107.98  | 2,201.77
Kalakad-Mundanthurai | 1988–89  | 2007  | Tamil Nadu | 5  | 895.00  | 706.54  | 1,601.54
Valmiki | 1989–90  | 2012  | Bihar | 54  | 598.45  | 300.93  | 899.38
Pench | 1992–93  | 2007  | Madhya Pradesh | 77  | 411.33  | 768.30  | 1,179.63
Tadoba-Andhari | 1993–94  | 2007  | Maharashtra | 97  | 625.82  | 1,101.77  | 1,727.59
Bandhavgarh | 1993–94  | 2007  | Madhya Pradesh | 135  | 716.9  | 820.03  | 1,536.93
Panna | 1994–95  | 2007  | Madhya Pradesh | 55  | 576.13  | 1,021.97  | 1,598.10
Dampa | 1994–95  | 2007  | Mizoram | 0  | 500  | 488  | 988
Bhadra | 1998–99  | 2007  | Karnataka | 28  | 492.46  | 571.83  | 1,064.29
Pench (MH)  | 1998–99  | 2007  | Maharashtra | 48  | 257.26  | 483.96  | 741.22
Pakke | 1999–2000  | 2012  | Arunachal Pradesh | 6  | 683.45  | 515  | 1,198.45
Nameri | 1999–2000  | 2000  | Assam | 3  | 320  | 144  | 464
Satpura | 1999–2000  | 2007  | Madhya Pradesh | 50  | 1,339.26  | 794.04  | 2,133.31
Anamalai | 2008–09  | 2007  | Tamil Nadu | 16  | 958.59  | 521.28  | 1,479.87
Udanti–Sitanadi | 2008–09  | 2009  | Chhattisgarh | 1  | 851.09  | 991.45  | 1,842.54
Satkosia | 2008–09  | 2007  | Odisha | 0  | 523.61  | 440.26  | 963.87
Kaziranga | 2008–09  | 2007  | Assam | 104  | 625.58  | 548  | 1,173.58
Achanakmar | 2008–09  | 2009  | Chhattisgarh | 5  | 626.19  | 287.82  | 914.02
Kali | 2008–09  | 2007  | Karnataka | 17  | 814.88  | 282.63  | 1,097.51
Sanjay Dhubri | 2008–09  | 2011  | Madhya Pradesh | 41  | 812.57  | 861.93  | 1,674.5
Mudumalai | 2008–09  | 2007  | Tamil Nadu | 114  | 321.00  | 367.59  | 688.59
Nagarhole | 2008–09  | 2007  | Karnataka | 141  | 643.35  | 562.41  | 1,205.76
Parambikulam | 2008–09  | 2009  | Kerala | 31  | 390.89  | 252.77  | 643.66
Sahyadri | 2009–10  | 2012  | Maharashtra | 0  | 612.00  | 565.45  | 1,165.57
Biligiri Ranganatha Temple | 2010–11  | 2007  | Karnataka | 37  | 359.10  | 215.72  | 574.82
Kawal | 2012–13  | 2012  | Telangana | 0  | 892.23  | 1,123.21  | 2,015.44
Sathyamangalam | 2013–14  | 2013  | Tamil Nadu | 85  | 793.49  | 614.91  | 1,408.40
Mukandra Hills | 2013–14  | 2013  | Rajasthan | 1  | 417.17  | 342.82  | 759.99
Nawegaon–Nagzira | 2013–14  | 2015  | Maharashtra | 11  | 653.67  | 1,241.27  | 1,894.94
Amrabad | 2014  | 2015  | Telangana | 12  | 2,166.37  | 445.02  | 2,611.39
Pilibhit | 2014  | 2014  | Uttar Pradesh | 63  | 602.79  | 127.45  | 730.25
Bor | 2014  | 2012  | Maharashtra | 9  | 138.12  | 678.15  | 816.27
Rajaji | 2015  | 2015  | Uttarakhand | 54  | 819.54  | 255.63  | 1,075.17
Orang | 2016  | 2016  | Assam | 16  | 79.28  | 413.18  | 492.46
Kamlang | 2016  | 2017  | Arunachal Pradesh | 0  | 671  | 112  | 783
Srivilliputhur–Megamalai | 2021  | 2021  | Tamil Nadu | 12  | 641.86  | 374.7  | 1,016.57
Ramgarh Vishdhari | 2022  | 2022  | Rajasthan | 1  | 481.91  | 1,019.99  | 1,501.90
Ranipur | 2022  | 2022  | Uttar Pradesh | NA  | 230.31  | 299.05  | 529.36
Veerangana Durgavati | 2023  | 2023  | Madhya Pradesh | NA  | 1,414  | 925.12  | 2,339.12
Dholpur-Karauli | 2023  | 2023  | Rajasthan | NA  | 599.64  | 0  | 599.64
Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla[13] | 2024  | 2024  | Chhattisgarh | NA  | 2,049.23  | 780.15  | 2,829.38[14]
Ratapani Tiger Reserve[10] | 2024  | 2024  | Madhya Pradesh | NA  | 763.81  | 507.65  | 1,271.47
Madhav National Park [15] | 1956  | 2024  | Madhya Pradesh | 5** | 355  | 1,276  | 1,751

* Amangarh Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh is a buffer zone of Jim Corbett National Park and may not be regarded as a separate tiger reserve. It has a buffer zone of 80.6 km2 (31.1 sq mi) but no core area of critical tiger habitat.[16][17]
* **At present, the Madhav Tiger Reserve is home to five tigers, including two recently born cubs. The reserve’s tiger population was boosted through a tiger reintroduction project initiated in 2023, where three tigers (including two females) were relocated to the park.[18]

## References

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1. ^ Tiger reserves (Report). National Tiger Conservation Authority. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
2. ^ "Project Tiger" (PDF). Government of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
3. ^ "India's tiger population sees 33% increase". BBC News. 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-08-01. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
4. ^ "Tiger Estimate in India" (PDF). Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. 28 March 2011. p. 9\. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
5. ^ a b Qureshi, Q.; Jhala, Y. V.; Yadav, S. P. & Mallick, A. (2023). Status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India 2022 (PDF) (Report). National Tiger Conservation Authority & Wildlife Institute of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-05-05. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
6. ^ "2967 – What the new global Tiger number means". World Wide Fund. 2016. Archived from the original on 2019-09-27. Retrieved 2019-05-27.
7. ^ "Project Tiger". National Tiger Conservation Authority. Archived from the original on 5 April 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
8. ^ Panwar, H. S. (1987). "Project Tiger: The reserves, the tigers, and their future". In Tilson, R. L.; Sel, U. S. (eds.). Tigers of the world: the biology, biopolitics, management, and conservation of an endangered species. Park Ridge, N.J.: Minnesota Zoological Garden, IUCN/SSC Captive Breeding Group, IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group. pp. 110–117\. ISBN 978-0-815-51133-5.110-117&rft.pub=Minnesota+Zoological+Garden,+IUCN/SSC+Captive+Breeding+Group,+IUCN/SSC+Cat+Specialist+Group&rft.date=1987&rft.isbn=978-0-815-51133-5&rft.au=Panwar,+H.+S.&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=YdC-wfyZwZEC&pg;=PA110&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Tiger+reserves+of+India" class="Z3988">
9. ^ Thapar, V. (1999). "The tragedy of the Indian tiger: starting from scratch". In Seidensticker, J.; Christie, S.; Jackson, P. (eds.). Riding the Tiger. Tiger Conservation in human-dominated landscapes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 296–306\. ISBN 978-0-521-64057-2.296-306&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft.date=1999&rft.isbn=978-0-521-64057-2&rft.au=Thapar,+V.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Tiger+reserves+of+India" class="Z3988">
10. ^ a b "Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh becomes India's 58th Tiger Reserve". The Hindu. 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
11. ^ "Tiger Reserves of India". Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
12. ^ MEE summary report (PDF) (Report). National Tiger Conservation Authority. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
13. ^ "56th Tiger Reserve of the country notified in Chhattisgarh". Press Information Bureau (Press release). 19 November 2024. Archived from the original on 18 November 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
14. ^ "Chhattisgarh's Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla declared India's 56th and 3rd largest tiger reserve". Moneycontrol. 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
15. ^ "Madhav National Park, Madhya Pradesh, was declared a tiger reserve earlier this month, taking the tally of such reserves in the country to 58". The Indian Express. 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
16. ^ "Tiger Reserves". Wildlife Institute of India. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
17. ^ "Tiger Reserves". National Tiger Conservation Authority. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
18. ^ https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/madhav-national-park-declared-as-indias-58th-tiger-reserve/

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tiger reserves of India.

* v
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Tiger reserves of India

* Bengal Tiger
* National Tiger Conservation Authority
* Project Tiger

Assam|

* Kaziranga
* Manas
* Nameri
* Orang

Arunachal Pradesh|

* Kamlang
* Namdapha
* Pakhui

Andhra Pradesh|

* Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

Bihar|

* Valmiki

Chhattisgarh|

* Achanakmar
* Indravati
* Udanti

Jharkhand|

* Palamau

Karnataka|

* Anshi-Dandeli
* Bandipur
* Bhadra
* Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple
* Kali
* Nagarhole

Kerala|

* Periyar
* Parambikulam

Madhya Pradesh|

* Bandhavgarh
* Bori-Satpura
* Kanha
* Panna
* Pench
* Sanjay-Dubri
* Veerangana Durgavati

Maharashtra|

* Bor
* Melghat
* Navegaon
* Shahayadri
* Tadoba-Andhari

Mizoram|

* Dampa

Odisha|

* Satkosia
* Simlipal
* Sunabeda

Rajasthan|

* Dholpur-Karauli
* Mukandra
* Ramgarh Vishdhari
* Ranthambore
* Sariska

Tamil Nadu|

* Anamalai
* Kalakkad-Mundanthurai
* Mudumalai
* Sathyamangalam
* Srivilliputhur-Megamalai

Telangana|

* Amrabad
* Kawal
* Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam

Uttar Pradesh|

* Dudhwa
* Pilibhit
* Ranipur

Uttarakhand|

* Corbett
* Rajaji

West Bengal|

* Buxa
* Sunderbans

* Category

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