In a significant conservation milestone, a tigress will be airlifted from the Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh to the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR) in Rajasthan. This marks Rajasthan’s first inter-state tiger translocation and India’s second such translocation, covering a distance of nearly 800 km.
About Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve
Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve is located in the Bundi district of Rajasthan. It covers a total area of 1,501.89 square kilometres, comprising a core area of 481.90 sq. km and a buffer zone of 1,019.98 sq. km.
The reserve holds strategic importance as it acts as a critical wildlife corridor connecting the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in the northeast with the Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve in the south. It was officially notified as a tiger reserve on 16 May 2022.
The Mez River, a tributary of the Chambal River, flows through the reserve. The terrain is marked by rugged landscapes of the Aravalli and Vindhyan ranges, along with valleys and plateaus.
Vegetation and Flora
The reserve is dominated by dry deciduous forests.
The primary tree species is Dhok (Anogeissus pendula).
Other important flora includes Khair, Ronj, Amaltas, Gurjan, and Saler.
Fauna of Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve
The region is currently dominated by leopards and sloth bears.
Other notable fauna includes the jungle cat, golden jackal, hyena, crested porcupine, Indian hedgehog, rhesus macaque, and Hanuman langur.
Key Facts about Pench Tiger Reserve
Pench Tiger Reserve is located in the southern Satpura Hills, spread across the Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh, and shares its southern boundary with Maharashtra. It is named after the Pench River, which flows through the reserve from north to south.
The reserve includes the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, and an extensive buffer zone. The landscape inspired Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book.”
Vegetation and Flora of Pench
The undulating terrain supports a mix of moist valley forests and dry deciduous forests.
Major flora includes teak, saag, mahua, and diverse grasses and shrubs.
Teak forests cover nearly one-fourth of the reserve.
Fauna of Pench Tiger Reserve
Pench is renowned for its large herbivore populations, including chital, sambar, nilgai, gaur (Indian bison), and wild boar.
The tiger is the apex predator, followed by leopards, wild dogs, and wolves.
The reserve hosts over 325 species of resident and migratory birds, such as the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Pitta, Osprey, Grey-headed Fishing Eagle, and White-eyed Buzzard.