Ratapani Tiger Reserve to Be Named After Dr Vishnu Wakankar

In a tribute that blends India’s rich cultural heritage with wildlife conservation, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav announced that the newly designated Ratapani Tiger Reserve will be named after eminent archaeologist and Padma Shri awardee Dr Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar.

Honouring a Legendary Archaeologist

• Dr Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar is globally renowned for discovering the Bhimbetka rock shelters in 1957.
• Bhimbetka, located within the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated about 40 km south of Bhopal.
• The site contains some of the world’s oldest prehistoric rock paintings, dating back tens of thousands of years, offering invaluable insights into early human life.

About Ratapani Tiger Reserve

• Ratapani was officially notified as Madhya Pradesh’s eighth tiger reserve and India’s 57th tiger reserve in December 2024.
• The reserve spans over 1,271 sq km, making it one of the significant conservation landscapes in central India.

Rich Biodiversity Hotspot

• Ratapani hosts an estimated 90 tigers, along with leopards, sloth bears, and a wide range of flora and fauna.
• The area is noted for its ecological diversity as well as its unique overlap of natural and cultural heritage.

Significance of the Move

• Naming the reserve after Dr Wakankar symbolises the integration of heritage conservation with wildlife protection.
• It highlights Madhya Pradesh’s identity as a state that is both the “Tiger State of India” and a cradle of ancient human civilisation.