Raipur: Kudos to the work done for the existence and conservation of tigers in Chhattisgarh, the number of tigers in the state has doubled at present. According to the tiger census conducted in the year 2022, the number of tigers was 17 which has increased to 35 in 2025.
The reserve now has multiple breeding-age tigers with a a healthy sex ratio for the first time in 15 years, said the report released in July. State Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap said that “continuous efforts are being made to increase the number of tigers. As a result of active management of tiger habitat areas, the number of tigers is also increasing continuously”. He further thanked the Wildlife, Forest Department for doing good work under the guidance of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai and for the proper management of tigers in Chhattisgarh’s Achanakmar Tiger Reserve and Indravati Tiger Reserve area, Sitanadi Udanti area, Guru Ghasidas Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve.
“The population status and trend of tigers and prey in ATR (Achanakmar Tiger Reserve) were assessed using camera trap data from the 2017 to 2024, and line transect data from 2019 and 2024. There is evidence for progressive recovery of the tiger population over this period, with 10 resident tigers being photo-captured in 2024, relative to 5 in 2017,” the report said.
In the Tiger Reserve area, the Forest Department developed grasslands of local species with the help of experts. This provides fodder throughout the year to herbivorous wild animals. By running habitat development programs in protected areas and active management, in the past years, deer have been successfully transferred from areas with high deer population to areas with low deer population. This initiative has increased the number of deer, which is the main food of tigers, and the presence of deer in the entire area has increased more than before.
Use of drones and thermal cameras for wildlife monitoring
Active habitat management practices have been implemented in the tiger reserve, such as maintenance of pastures, water resource development and removal of invasive plants. Villages in Kanha have been relocated from the core area, reducing human interference and allowing wildlife to move freely. The Chhattisgarh Forest Department is using drones and thermal cameras in continuous surveillance following the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and with the help of forest protection committees to track the movement and behaviour of wildlife in the forest to reduce conflicts between animals and humans.
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