Gujarat has been officially declared a ‘Tiger State’ by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), marking the return of tigers to the state after nearly 33 years. With this, Gujarat has become the only state in India where lions, leopards and tigers are found together in the wild.
The status was granted after sustained evidence of a male tiger’s presence in the Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary in Dahod district. Forest officials said the tiger has been repeatedly captured on camera traps over the past 10 months, indicating it has established a stable territory.
Following the declaration, the Gujarat Forest Department is set to begin the process of notifying Ratanmahal as a tiger reserve. Plans are also underway to strengthen conservation efforts, including improving prey availability, enhancing protection and exploring the introduction of female tigers to support breeding.
Conservationists have welcomed the move, saying the Tiger State status will boost wildlife conservation, eco-tourism and local livelihoods.