Jaipur: The forest department is preparing to inaugurate wildlife safari within the buffer zone of the recently established Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (RVTR) in Bundi district.
Following the success of Ranthambore and Sariska, nature enthusiasts can now embark on a tiger safari in this new reserve. The safari’s inauguration is expected to take place sometime this month. A forest official informed TOI, “The inauguration is scheduled to take place either on June 18 or June 19 in the presence of the forest minister. This will be the third reserve in the state with a tiger safari.”
Currently, there is a single pair of big cats at the reserve. The forest department also plans to relocate another tigress from the Ranthambore National Park (RNP) to RVTR. The department initially planned to relocate two tigresses to join male tiger T-115, which established its territory in Ramgarh after moving from Ranthambore. After tigress T-102 settled into her new home, the forest department completed necessary paperwork to bring in another feline. An official stated, “We have received permission from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The relocation of another tigress will take place when climatic conditions are favourable.”
The NTCA granted in-principle approval to designate the Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as tiger reserves on July 5, 2021. After chief minister Ashok Gehlot announced plans to upgrade the forest into a reserve, the process was expedited, and it finally received the status on May 2022.
Experts had previously believed that tigers had vanished from the sanctuary in 1999. “These forests came under the control of the Rajasthan government after Independence. In 1982, a portion of the forest was declared as Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary under Section 5 of the Rajasthan Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act, 1951. The core area of Ramgarh Vishdhari encompasses eight villages. The sanctuary is home to leopards, sambhars, chitals, wild boars, and more,” explained the official.
“Three zones have already been developed in the buffer zones, and we are proposing to develop four more zones in the core area for tourism. The department is working towards initially starting the safaris in the buffer areas. A committee has been formed to assess safari charges,” said an official.
Following the success of Ranthambore and Sariska, nature enthusiasts can now embark on a tiger safari in this new reserve. The safari’s inauguration is expected to take place sometime this month. A forest official informed TOI, “The inauguration is scheduled to take place either on June 18 or June 19 in the presence of the forest minister. This will be the third reserve in the state with a tiger safari.”
Currently, there is a single pair of big cats at the reserve. The forest department also plans to relocate another tigress from the Ranthambore National Park (RNP) to RVTR. The department initially planned to relocate two tigresses to join male tiger T-115, which established its territory in Ramgarh after moving from Ranthambore. After tigress T-102 settled into her new home, the forest department completed necessary paperwork to bring in another feline. An official stated, “We have received permission from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The relocation of another tigress will take place when climatic conditions are favourable.”
The NTCA granted in-principle approval to designate the Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as tiger reserves on July 5, 2021. After chief minister Ashok Gehlot announced plans to upgrade the forest into a reserve, the process was expedited, and it finally received the status on May 2022.
Experts had previously believed that tigers had vanished from the sanctuary in 1999. “These forests came under the control of the Rajasthan government after Independence. In 1982, a portion of the forest was declared as Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary under Section 5 of the Rajasthan Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act, 1951. The core area of Ramgarh Vishdhari encompasses eight villages. The sanctuary is home to leopards, sambhars, chitals, wild boars, and more,” explained the official.
“Three zones have already been developed in the buffer zones, and we are proposing to develop four more zones in the core area for tourism. The department is working towards initially starting the safaris in the buffer areas. A committee has been formed to assess safari charges,” said an official.
