Two tigers may soon be relocated from the renowned Ranthambhore National Park to the Mukundara Hills tiger reserve in Rajasthan, which has been waiting for the big cats since its establishment in 2013. The State government has sought the Centre’s nod for the shifting exercise.
The Mukundara Hills, located in the Hadoti region of south-eastern Rajasthan, is the third notified tiger habitat in the State, after Ranthambhore and Sariska. Though it was established to cater to the spill over tiger population from Ranthambhore, the majestic cat is still missing from its wildlife population that boasts of panthers, sloth bear, cheetal, sambhar, blue bulls, chinkara, wild boars, langurs, and jackal, among other species.
Rajasthan’s Forest Minister Gajendra Singh met Union Environment and Forest Minister Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi last week to put forward the demand for shifting two tigers. He said the Mukundara Hills was fast emerging as a favourite destination for wildlife lovers.
“If tigers are added to the wildlife population in Mukundara Hills, it will increase the charm of the reserve and help the State government to generate the revenue needed for improving security and tourism infrastructure,” Mr. Singh said.
The State’s Chief Wildlife Warden G.V. Reddy, who accompanied the Minister, told The Hindu that the Union Environment and Forest Ministry's technical committee would take up the matter on September 4. “We are confident that the committee will give a go-ahead to the proposal,” he said.
