List of Tiger Reserves in India 2024, Map, Names, Schemes

India is home to over 70% of the world’s tiger population, making it a crucial player in global tiger conservation. As of 2024, India has 56 tiger reserves, each contributing to the protection of these magnificent apex predators and their habitats. These reserves are part of the Project Tiger initiative, launched in 1973 to conserve tigers and their ecosystems.

India’s 56th Tiger Reserve: Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve

The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, located in Chhattisgarh, has been declared India’s 56th tiger reserve. Covering 2,829.38 sq. km, it includes the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary. The reserve plays a crucial role in tiger conservation, connecting with neighboring reserves like Bandhavgarh and Sanjay Dubri. It is home to over 750 species, including tigers, birds, and mammals. This reserve, part of the Project Tiger initiative, aims to enhance wildlife corridors, support local eco-tourism, and mitigate human-wildlife conflict, strengthening conservation efforts in central India.

Tiger Census 2022

In the 2022 tiger census, India’s tiger population increased to 3682 from 2967 in 2018. The Wildlife Institute of India reports that the upper limit of the tiger population is 3925, with an average of 3682 tigers, showing a 6.1% annual growth rate.

Tiger Reserves in India 2024

Project Tiger managed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) look 56 tiger reserves in India. India is home to 80% of the world’s tigers. According to the Wild Life Protection Act of 1972, the state government must declare an area as a Tiger Reserve if the NTCA recommends it. The state must accept this recommendation.

The boundaries of a tiger reserve cannot be changed without approval from the National Board for Wild Life and the NTCA. A state government cannot remove the status of a tiger reserve unless it is in the public interest and approved by both the National Board for Wild Life and the NTCA.

Critical Tiger Habitats (CTH), also called the core areas of tiger reserves are protected under the Wild Life Protection Act. These areas must be kept safe for tigers while respecting the rights of local tribes and forest dwellers. The state government decides these areas after talking to a group of experts.

National Tiger Conservation Authority

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. It was set up in 2005 to protect tigers and their habitats in India. The NTCA is responsible for:

• Formulating and implementing the National Tiger Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (NTCS&AP)
• Overseeing the management of tiger reserves
• Researching tigers and their habitat
• Raising awareness about tiger conservation

List of Tiger Reserves in India

Here is the List of Tiger Reserves in India with states and the total area covered:

Top 10 Largest Tiger Reserves

Check out the top 10 Largest Tiger reserves:

India’s Tiger Reserves Significance

Since the early 1900s, the number of tigers has been going down. Tigers have lost 93% of their original habitat. India is home to over 70% of the world’s tigers. Tigers are very important in Indian culture. As the top predator, they help keep ecosystems healthy and diverse. Protecting tiger habitats also helps preserve rivers, reduce soil erosion, and improve services like pollination and water retention.

Tiger Reserves of India Threats

One of the biggest problems in saving tigers is poaching. Many people hunt tigers because they are sold out with a lot of money. Climate change and global warming are making it hotter forcing tigers and other animals to move to cooler places. Natural disasters like big forest fires are also a big danger. People are taking over tiger habitats for farming, building roads, and grazing cattle. This is a serious threat to where tigers live.

Tiger Reserves of India Map

Tiger Reserves in India Conservation Plan

According to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972’s section 38. v.(3) For the proper management of each area referred to in subsection (1), the State Government shall develop a Tiger Conservation Plan, including a staff development and deployment plan. This will ensure: 

• Protection of the Tiger Reserve and provision of habitat inputs specific to the tiger reserve for maintaining a viable population of tigers, co-predators, and prey animals..
• Ecologically friendly land uses that provide dispersing habitat and corridors in tiger reserves and areas connecting one Protected Area (PA) with another PA or tiger reserve.
• The forestry needs of tiger protection are not incompatible with the activities of conventional forest divisions or divisions next to tiger reserves.
• Of the 50 tiger reserves, the TCPs of the following 35 have received NTCA approval, while the other reserves are undergoing preparation or review.

Tiger Conservation Foundation (TCF)

Tiger conservation is a shared duty between the federal government and the states that call for coordinated, creative, and time-bound efforts. Along with updating the ongoing Project Tiger Scheme with increased funding to support the tiger States, the Government of India has launched a number of ground-breaking efforts in this area. At this level, appropriate institutional adjustments have also been made.

According to section 38X of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, the State Government must create a Tiger Conservation Foundation (TCF) for tiger reserves located within the State in order to facilitate and support the management of tiger reserves for the conservation of tigers and associated biodiversity as well as for taking eco-development initiatives through community involvement in the development process.

The Foundation’s goal is to assist and support the management of tiger reserves for the conservation of tigers and biodiversity, through multi-stakeholder participation by approved management plans, and to support related initiatives in neighbouring landscapes by national and state laws.

Schemes for Tiger Reserves in India

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