Gujarat Re-enters India’s Tiger Map After Over Three Decades

Gujarat has officially regained its status as a tiger-present state, with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) confirming the settlement of a tiger in the Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary in Dahod district. Following this confirmation, Gujarat has been included once again in the national tiger population census.

Return After 33 Years
The development marks Gujarat’s return to India’s tiger map after more than three decades. The state was excluded from the tiger census in 1992 after tigers were declared locally extinct in 1989. The last census that year recorded only pugmarks, with no subsequent sightings reported.

Historical Decline of Tigers in Gujarat
Forest department records indicate that Gujarat once supported a significant tiger population. However, habitat loss, hunting, and ecological pressures led to the gradual disappearance of the species from the state by the late 1980s.

Unique Big Cat Coexistence
With the confirmation of a resident tiger, Gujarat has become the only state in India where all three major big cats — the Asiatic lion, tiger, and leopard — coexist within its forests.

Conservation Significance
The return of the tiger is seen as a major conservation milestone and reflects the improving ecological conditions and wildlife protection measures in parts of the state, particularly in eastern Gujarat’s forest landscapes.