The territorial forests of Madhya Pradesh, outside the tiger reserves, have reported the presence of as many as 237 unique tigers with Kanha-Pench Corridor Complex in south-east Madhya Pradesh reporting as many as 97 big cats and Bhopal-Ratapani Complex surrounding the capital Bhopal reporting 80.
The figures have been given in the ‘Status of Tiger – Co-predators and Prey in India 2022’ report released recently. According to the report, India’s estimated tiger population is 3,682, of which 785 – the highest – are in Madhya Pradesh.
The six tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh have reported 438 unique tigers, while the total number of tigers utilizing the reserves is 563, the report shows. Across India, there are 3,080 unique tigers.
The details of the territorial tigers in the report have several interesting aspects. One of them is that the Balaghat forest division, along with Lamta forest division (parts of the Kanha-Pench complex), which were to comprise the proposed Sonewani wildlife sanctuary, have reported as many as 63 tigers, with Balaghat FD alone reporting 49 tigers.
The state government recently rejected the proposal of Sonewani sanctuary, after long-drawn protests of local people supported by Balaghat BJP MLA and former minister Gauri Shanker Bisen. Locals were protesting the proposed sanctuary as it would mean their displacement.
However, given the huge number of tigers reported in the area, wildlife activists have started questioning the decision of the government, which they allege was under political pressure.
Activist Ajay Dubey told THE WEEK that the presence of 63 tigers in the 129 sqkm area (proposed area of Sonewani sanctuary) is significant as even famous tiger reserves like Panna and Satpura have lower numbers at 55 and 50 respectively. He said the rejection of the proposal of sanctuary despite approval of the State Wildlife Board is a big misstep as regards tiger conservation in the crucial Kanha-Pench Complex.
Dubey said he will file a petition in the High Court to challenge the state government's decision.
Highlighting the importance of this tiger habitat the Status of Tigers report states: “This (Kanha-Pench Corridor) complex plays an important role in connecting important (tiger) populations of Central India. Specifically, it is a continuous forest patch connecting two tiger reserves with two state highways SH26 and SH11 passing through Barghat-Balaghat and Mandla-Lamta respectively. This corridor is crucial in long-term sustenance of the Central Indian tiger population.”
Ratapani awaits tiger reserve status
Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), about 65km from Bhopal, has reported 56 tigers – the third highest among tiger habitats in the state including the tiger reserves. However, this sanctuary—a part of the Bhopal-Ratapani Complex—is still awaiting the tiger reserve status despite the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)’s in-principle approval.
The Tiger Status Report says, “Ratapani WLS connects Sehore Forest Division with Raisen and Bhopal Forest Divisions, forming a continuous patch of forested area. The connecting landscapes around the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary can act as spillover areas. This continuous patch forms an active corridor for the movement of wildlife across the landscape. Ratapani has the largest tiger population. With inputs to increase the prey population, Ratapani WLS has a capacity to harbour source tiger population for adjoining forest divisions. The government of India had given in principle approval for declaring it a Tiger reserve.”
Dubey’s petition, demanding that Ratapani be made a tiger reserve at the earliest, is under hearing in the High Court and the NTCA has already given an affidavit in the court supporting the status. “However, there is a delay on part of the state government to file a reply in the country and thus the case is lingering. Now, the confirmation of the presence of a huge number of tigers in the sanctuary and surrounding forests further emboldens our stand,” Dubey told THE WEEK.
Dubey also said the huge increase in the number of tigers – in the reserves as well as territorial forests in the state – calls for urgent constitution of a tiger protection force, which is mandatory as per NTCA rules. He said the failure of the state in constituting this force has led to a condition where Madhya Pradesh reports the highest number of tiger deaths and highest poaching deaths in the country.
Also, Dubey underlined the need for declaring a 129 sqkm forest area between Kaliasot and Kerwa rivers right on the border of Bhopal as a ‘conservation reserve’ as this area is also considered very crucial for tiger movement. The Tiger Status Report has shown that there are seven tigers present in the Bhopal forest division. “Though this number is quite low compared to the claim of over 20 tigers by the Bhopal forest officials, yet the need for protecting the forest around Bhopal is important. There is already a proposal for this reserve and government needs to act quickly,” Dubey said.
The activist has filed petitions regarding the protection force and conservation reserve issues too in the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Population in territorial forests (Total 237)
Bhopal - Ratapani Complex
Bhopal - 7
Dewas - 7
Sehore - 10
Ratapani - 56
Kanha -pench corridor complex
Mandla – 14
Balaghat -49
Lamta – 14
Barghat project -8
South Seoni – 12
Others
Umaria - 16
Shahdol 15
Nauradehi 5
Satna 3
Narmadapuram 2
North Panna - 13
South Panna - 1
North Betul - 2
Rampur Bathoda division (Betul) – 3