Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s forests are witnessing the presence of a tiger once again after more than three decades. A Royal Bengal tiger has established permanent residence in the state for the first time in 32 years, marking a significant ecological milestone.
Forest authorities have confirmed that a male tiger has been residing in the Ratan Mahal Wildlife Sanctuary in Dahod district for the past nine months.
Gujarat, globally recognised as the last refuge of the Asiatic lion, has now entered the exclusive group of Indian states hosting all three major big cat species lion, leopard, and tiger. Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia called the development a moment of pride for the state, noting that Gujarat’s varied ecosystems have once again demonstrated their capacity to sustain complex wildlife populations.
Senior forest officials report that the tiger, believed to be approximately five years old, was initially observed in the border regions of Ratan Mahal, near the Jhabua and Kathiwada areas of Madhya Pradesh.
Tiger populations in these neighbouring forests have experienced substantial growth in recent years. Authorities believe the animal likely migrated naturally while searching for new territory as tiger numbers in Madhya Pradesh increased.
Following the first sighting nine months ago, the Gujarat Forest Department has continuously tracked the tiger using camera traps and field monitoring teams. Officials have now shared clear photographic documentation confirming the animal’s ongoing presence in Ratan Mahal’s dense forest terrain.
Unlike previous brief sightings during the 1980s and early 2000s, this tiger has remained within Gujarat’s territory for a prolonged duration, suggesting favourable habitat conditions.
Wildlife specialists say the development highlights the effectiveness of regional corridor connectivity between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Authorities are now concentrating on maintaining sufficient prey populations and habitat protection to support the tiger’s long-term survival.
The coexistence of lions in Saurashtra, leopards throughout central Gujarat, and now a tiger in Dahod positions Gujarat as an exceptional habitat for India’s big cats, reflecting the state’s advancing conservation efforts.