RATAPANI SANTUARY

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Context

The dead body of male tiger was found in Karamai Gauharganj beat authority said.
It was a two-and-a-half years old tiger which suffered injuries and succumbed to them.
The exact cause of death is not yet known and will be determined after post mortem report.
However preliminary cause of death is believed to be a territorial conflict with another tiger while searching for water.

Ratapani Wild life sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh

Located in Madhya Pradesh, it is spread across an area of 907.71 sq. km in Vindyan hills.
It is located near Bhopal, under the Obaidullaganj forest division in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh.
It known for its population of approximately 12 to 15 dominant tigers, it was first notified in the year 1976.
It includes various types of landscape for instance caves, cliffs, dam, ponds, boulder region
Narmada River runs parallel to this sanctuary.

Important Places in the Sanctuary

Concerns for conservation

In 2008, Ratapani wildlife sanctuary got initial approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority to be declared as Tiger reserve.
Also in the beginning of 2022, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved Ratapani to be notified as a tiger reserve.
However it is far from implementation and this wildlife sanctuary is not yet officially declared as a tiger reserve.
- It is mainly due to population pressure in this area and impact on business activities like mining.
Delay in granting status of tiger reserve is raising concerns among environmental activists and leading to half-hearted efforts of conserving tigers.

Flora and Fauna

Flora

Main type of forests are various kinds of tropical dry deciduous forest and moist deciduous type.
Teak, Tectona grandis, is the main tree species covering more than 50% area of sanctuary.
It also has Bamboo forest, Saja Forest.
Other type of flora include Chandan, Sal, Dhaora, Tendu, Arjun, Amla, Palas, Salai, Mango, Jamun, Banyan, Ber, Dhok, Jamun, Kadam, Khajur, Khair and grasses.

Fauna

Many species of mammals like Sloth Bears, fish, reptiles, butterflies and amphibians are found in the wild life sanctuary.
Apart from Tigers it has variety of wildlife which includes
- Carnivores - Leopards, Wild Dogs, Hyaenas, Jackals and Foxs etc.
- Herbivores - Spotted Deer, Blue Bull, Sambhar, Barking Deer, Chinkara, Black Buck and Monkeys.
- Birds – various migratory birds, Paradise Flycatcher (state bird of Madhya Pradesh), Oriental White-Backed Vulture, Long-Billed Vulture, Red-Headed Vulture, Sarus Crane, Black-Necked Stork etc.