Ahmedabad: After a gap of more than three decades, Gujarat has officially regained its long-lost ‘Tiger State’ identity, with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) confirming the permanent presence of a tiger in Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary in Dahod district. The confirmation marks a historic turnaround in the state’s wildlife conservation journey.
With this development, Gujarat has moved beyond its long-standing identity as the exclusive home of the Asiatic lion and has become India’s only state where lions, leopards and tigers coexist in the wild, a rare ecological distinction carrying both conservation and symbolic significance.
Breakthrough at Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary
The breakthrough came from Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary, where a male tiger has not merely passed through but settled. Forest officials said the young tiger first entered Gujarat from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh in February 2025. Unlike earlier transient movements recorded in the past, the animal remained in the sanctuary for nearly ten months.
Continuous monitoring through camera traps, repeated direct sightings and consistent movement patterns confirmed that the tiger had established a territory, prompting the NTCA to declare it a resident rather than a transient visitor.
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NTCA Assessment and National Census Inclusion
Following the confirmation, the NTCA deputed a team to Gujarat to conduct a detailed habitat and ecological assessment. The team concluded that Ratanmahal’s ecosystem is suitable for sustaining tiger life, and recommended measures to further strengthen conservation efforts.
Based on these findings, Gujarat has been included in the 2026 All India Tiger Census, effectively restoring its Tiger State status after 33 years. Gujarat was last recognised as a tiger state in the late 1980s but was excluded from the census in 1992 due to the absence of breeding evidence.
Minister Highlights Historic Comeback
Reacting to the development, Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister Arjunbhai Modhwadia described the moment as a matter of pride for the state.
“We have not yet received a formal letter from the NTCA, but the preliminary report prepared after a detailed study has confirmed the presence of a tiger in Ratanmahal and included Gujarat in the national tiger census. This is a proud moment for every Gujarati,” he said.
Recalling the past setback, Modhwadia said Gujarat lost its Tiger State status after the 1989 census recorded only pugmarks without evidence of cubs. A brief revival hope in 2019, when a tiger cub was sighted, ended within days due to the animal’s death.
Camera Trap Evidence and Early Detection
The minister said the tiger was first captured on camera on February 22, 2025, at 2:40 am. The following morning, forest staff during routine patrols in the Pipalgota Round of the Kanjeta Range noticed unusually large pugmarks.
“When we reviewed the camera trap data, the tiger’s presence was conclusively confirmed,” he said, adding that the evidence this time was “strong, continuous and undeniable.”
Conservation Measures Already Underway
Even before formal confirmation, Gujarat intensified conservation efforts in the region. According to Modhwadia, water sources were strengthened, security enhanced, fire-prevention measures upgraded and prey availability ensured.
Camera trap coverage has been expanded across the sanctuary, while prey species such as sambar and chital were introduced during the monsoon. Existing wildlife like wild boar, nilgai and monkeys already support the food chain.
Plans for a Tiger Reserve
The state is now preparing for the next phase of conservation. Forest officers and frontline staff will receive special training in tiger monitoring, conservation and breeding. The government is also exploring the possibility of introducing female tigers to establish a sustainable breeding population.
“All efforts are being made to eventually declare Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary a Tiger Reserve,” Modhwadia said, underlining that Gujarat’s return to the tiger map is not symbolic, but part of a long-term conservation strategy.
With the confirmed presence of a resident tiger, Gujarat has not only reclaimed its Tiger State status but also opened a new chapter in India’s wildlife conservation story.
