Why is this in News?
- Gujarat has recorded the return of a tiger after decades of local extinction, with confirmed sightings in Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary .
- Tiger was repeatedly captured on camera traps since Feb 2025, establishing territorial presence.
- Marks Gujarat’s entry into states hosting three big cats (lion–tiger–leopard), and preparing for the fourth (cheetah) under Project Cheetah in Banni Grasslands.
Relevance:
- GS 3: Environment & Ecology — wildlife conservation, carnivore dispersal, habitat connectivity.
- GS 3: Biodiversity — species recovery, local extinction reversal, multi-big-cat landscape.
Basics
- Local Extinction: When a species disappears from a specific region but exists elsewhere. Tigers were declared locally extinct in Gujarat decades ago.
- Source Landscape: Tiger likely dispersed naturally from Madhya Pradesh’s Kathiawar/Chhota Udepur landscape, which has a healthy population.
- Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Location at the MP–Gujarat border
- Rich prey base (nilgai, wild boar, monkeys; sambar/spotted deer in monsoon)
- Dense habitat suitable for large carnivores
What Has Happened?
- First detection:
- Large pugmarks noticed on 23 Feb 2025 during patrol.
- Camera trap photo timestamped 22 Feb, 2:40 AM confirmed tiger presence.
- Regular sightings: Recurrent captures through multiple months prove it has established territory.
- Forest department action:
- Increased number of camera traps
- Ensured water availability
- Prey augmentation measures
- Fire prevention and habitat protection
- Constant monitoring of tiger health and movements
- NTCA informed: Formal recognition of tiger presence in Gujarat.
Significance
- Ecological Milestone:
- Restoration of natural carnivore range → improved ecosystem health.
- Indicates successful habitat integrity on Gujarat–MP border.
- Conservation Success Indicator:
- Shows connectivity corridors between MP and Gujarat are functional.
- Natural dispersal is a strong marker of forest ecosystem recovery.
- Big Cat Diversity:
- Gujarat already has Asiatic lions (Gir) and leopards widely spread.
- Now adds tiger presence, becoming a multi–big-cat state.
- Work underway to add cheetahs via reintroduction (Banni Grasslands).
Project Cheetah Link
- Gujarat preparing a 600-hectare cheetah breeding and conservation centre in Banni Grasslands, Kutch.
- Jointly funded by Centre + State.
- Will make Gujarat home to all four big cats — lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah.
Why Tigers Disappeared from Gujarat?
- Habitat loss due to agriculture expansion and fragmentation
- Prey depletion
- Poaching and human pressure
- Lack of tiger-specific conservation efforts (state focus on lions)
Current Conservation Implications
- Need for landscape-level management for long-term tiger survival.
- Potential requirement for corridor protection between MP and Gujarat forests.
- Possible future creation of a notified Tiger Reserve if population stabilizes.
- Must manage human–tiger conflict risks as the region has village interface.
