Centre approves Rajasthan’s fifth tiger reserve in Dholpur-Karauli

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre approves Rajasthan’s fifth tiger reserve in Dholpur-Karauli”  published in Hindustan Times on 22nd August 2023.

What is the News?

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has approved the Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.

This is India’s 54th tiger reserve and Rajasthan’s fifth tiger reserve after Ranthambore, Sariska, Mukundra Hills and Ramgarh Vishdhari.

How are Tiger Reserves notified?

Tiger Reserves are notified by State Governments as per provisions of Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 on advice of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

Can tiger reserves be altered and denotified?

These processes are governed by Section 38W of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 whose provisions are as follows:

Section 38 W(1) says that “No alteration in the boundaries of a tiger reserve shall be made except on a recommendation of the Tiger Conservation Authority and the approval of the National Board for Wild Life”.

Section 38 W (2) says “No State Government shall de-notify a tiger reserve, except in public interest with the approval of the Tiger Conservation Authority and the National Board for Wild Life”.

What is the status of tiger population in India?

The number of tigers in India has increased from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022, an annual rise of 6%.

Madhya Pradesh has the maximum number of tigers in the country (785), followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).

The number of tigers in Rajasthan has increased from 32 in 2006 to 88 in 2022.