The Government of India has approved a proposal to merge the two wildlife sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh to create the largest tiger reserve in the country spanning 2,300 square kilometres.
Key points
- The Union government has issued a notification regarding the approval of the proposal to merge the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary—located in central Madhya Pradesh covering parts of Sagar, Damoh, Narsinghpur, and Raisen districts—with the Rani Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary in the Damoh district of the state.
- The new tiger reserve will not only provide a safe haven for the area’s tiger population, which currently stands at 16 but also boost tourism and development in the region.
- The tiger reserve, which will be centered around the Jabera area of Damoh, is also expected to attract more tigers to the area, further enhancing its conservation value.
- Keeping in view the possible submergence of 900 sq km core area of Panna Tiger Reserve because of the Ken-Betwa link project, Nauradehi can become a new home of tigers in the state.
