tiger-numbers-in-chhattisgarh-double-in-three-years

Chhattisgarh has recorded a remarkable surge in its tiger population, which has risen from 17 in 2022 to 35 in April 2025, officials have confirmed on Wednesday. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, according to an official statement, described the increase as proof of effective conservation, adding that protecting wildlife remains a top priority for his government.

 

The state hosts four tiger reserves: Indravati (Bijapur district), Udanti-Sitanadi (Gariaband-Dhamtari), Achanakmar (Mungeli), and Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla, spanning the Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Korea, Surajpur and Balrampur districts. Achanakmar has the highest concentration of big cats in the state, said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Arun Kumar Pandey during the 15th meeting of the Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Welfare Board, chaired by CM Sai on Tuesday.

 

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has sanctioned the translocation of tigers from Madhya Pradesh to Udanti-Sitanadi and Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserves, which is expected to be completed soon, Pandey added.

 

Efforts are also underway to bolster numbers of the state animal, the wild buffalo, with additional buffaloes brought in from Assam. Special initiatives have been launched to safeguard the state bird, the Hill Myna, through a “Myna Mitra” group tasked with monitoring its habitat.

Also read: Sundarbans to become India’s second largest Tiger reserve

 

Facilities in tiger reserves and Kanger Valley National Park are being expanded to attract tourists, providing livelihood opportunities for local villagers while supporting conservation efforts, the statement said.

 

“Conservation and promotion of wildlife is our priority. Chhattisgarh is rich in forest wealth and wildlife, and the government is fully committed to protecting and developing it,” the statement quoted CM Sai as saying. He also emphasised developing areas such as Neemgaon in Jashpur, which attract migratory birds, as dedicated conservation sites to boost tourism and employment.

 

Forest and Climate Change Minister Kedar Kashyap noted that populations of other wild animals have also increased and that measures are being taken to improve their habitats.

 

The board approved proposals for patrolling routes, rationalising protected areas, road construction under Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve, pipeline extensions under Mission Amrit Yojana, and laying optical fibre cables in Kabirdham Forest Division to enhance connectivity.