Gujarat Re-Enters India’s Tiger Landscape
More than thirty years after disappearing from India’s official tiger range, Gujarat has been formally recognised once again as a tiger-bearing state . The decision follows sustained photographic and camera-trap evidence confirming the presence of a resident tiger in Ratanmahal Sanctuary in Dahod district. As a result, Gujarat will be included in the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 , marking a significant conservation milestone.
Verified Habitat in Ratanmahal Sanctuary
Forest officials confirmed that a nearly four-year-old male tiger has been residing in Ratanmahal for around ten months . First detected near the Gujarat–Madhya Pradesh border in mid-February, the animal has since established a stable home range within the sanctuary. Continuous camera-trap images and CCTV footage have ruled out the possibility of a brief or accidental movement, demonstrating long-term habitation.
NTCA Intervention and Census Planning
Following verification, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) issued a formal directive to initiate conservation measures in the area. A camera-trap census will be conducted along the Gujarat–Madhya Pradesh border as part of AITE 2026, which began in Indore. During this exercise, the tiger — currently untagged — will be radio-collared , enabling monitoring through stripe-pattern recognition software used nationally.
A Long Gap in Tiger Records
Gujarat last featured in India’s tiger census in 1989 , when pugmark evidence was recorded without direct sightings. The state was excluded from the 1992 census, effectively removing it from the national tiger map. A brief sighting in 2019 lasted only 15 days, making the present case unique due to its sustained and well-documented presence.
Future Conservation Prospects
Authorities will also survey Alirajpur in Madhya Pradesh , a corridor frequently used by the tiger, to assess the possibility of a female tiger in the landscape. Gujarat has formally requested NTCA assistance to declare Ratanmahal a tiger reserve , though any translocation plans will depend on prey-base assessments to ensure long-term ecological viability.
Important Facts for Exams
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All-India Tiger Estimation is conducted every four years
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Ratanmahal Sanctuary lies in Dahod district, Gujarat
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NTCA functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
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Tiger identification uses stripe-pattern recognition technology
Month: Current Affairs - December 28, 2025
Category: Environment, Biodiversity Conservation