Kota/Jaipur: Rajasthan’s Forest and Environment Minister Sanjay Sharma announced that two tigresses will soon be brought from Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand to strengthen the population in the state’s tiger reserves. The initiative aims to diversify the genetic pool and bolster conservation efforts, with the long-term goal of making Rajasthan a tiger-supplying state for the rest of the country.
Tigresses to Be Relocated to Mukundra and Ramgarh Reserves
Speaking to reporters during his visit to Kota, Minister Sharma said that tigresses from Madhya Pradesh will be brought to the Mukundra Hills and Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserves this November.
“While tigresses are currently being imported from other states, our goal is that in the near future, Rajasthan will be capable of supplying tigers to other states,” Sharma said.
He highlighted that Sariska Tiger Reserve, once devoid of tigers after 2004, now houses 50 tigers, while Ranthambore Tiger Reserve has 78, taking Rajasthan’s total tiger population to 135. However, he expressed concern over the dominance of a single gene pool, which makes the population vulnerable to diseases.
Addressing the Gene Pool Challenge
Minister Sharma pointed out that most of Rajasthan’s tigers trace their lineage to Ranthambore. This limited genetic diversity poses a long-term threat to the tiger population’s health and resilience.
“To counter this, we are bringing tigers from Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh to ensure a healthier gene pool,” he said.
Focus on Gharial Conservation
Apart from tiger relocation, Sharma emphasized the need for improving gharial conservation efforts in the Chambal Sanctuary.
He said he recently visited the Morena Gharial Hatchery in Madhya Pradesh to study its successful conservation model.
“Gharials aged 1 to 4 years are kept separately there. I have directed Rajasthan’s forest officials to visit Morena and adopt its best practices to strengthen our gharial breeding and conservation programmes,” Sharma added.
Tourism Boost: Fee Reduction Planned for Lesser-Visited Reserves
The minister also addressed tourism challenges in Rajasthan’s newer tiger reserves — Ramgarh Vishdhari and Mukundra Hills. Despite housing tigers, these reserves attract fewer tourists compared to Ranthambore and Sariska.
Sharma said that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has suggested revising tourism fees to encourage more visitors.
“All four tiger reserves currently charge the same fee. But since wildlife sightings are limited in Ramgarh and Mukundra, we have instructed officials to propose a fee reduction. Once approved by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, this will help promote eco-tourism,” he explained.
Rajasthan’s Growing Tiger Footprint
With ongoing conservation efforts, Rajasthan now stands among India’s leading tiger-bearing states. The addition of tigresses from other regions, coupled with focused habitat and tourism initiatives, is expected to boost both biodiversity and eco-tourism in the state.
