The Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve: Madhya Pradesh’s 7th Sanctuary

Madhya Pradesh Government officially declared the establishment of the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve, making it the 7th in the state and 54th in the country. Covering 1,414 square kilometers in the core area and 925.12 square kilometers in the buffer zone, this reserve aims to conserve wildlife. No new revenue areas were included, so there won’t be additional restrictions on local residents. Madhya Pradesh already has six tiger reserves and, as per a recent report, has the highest tiger population in India at 785, followed by Karnataka (563) and Uttarakhand (560).

The newly established Tiger Reserve will cover regions within the Nauradehi (Wild Life) and Veerangana Durgavati Sanctuary, known for their ecological importance in safeguarding various aspects of biodiversity such as plants, animals, geology, and the study of animals. At present, this sanctuary houses around 15 tigers, underlining its crucial role as a habitat for these endangered creatures.