Tiger Returns to Gujarat After Three Decades | 21 Nov 2025

Source: IE

A tiger has been officially spotted in Gujarat's Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), marking the first confirmed sighting of the species in the state since it was declared extinct in 1989.

• Gujarat now hosts lions, tigers, and leopards, and is preparing Banni Grasslands for a cheetah breeding and conservation centre under Project Cheetah.

Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary

• Location & Establishment: Also known as Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary, located in the Dahod district of Gujarat, borders Jhabua and Kathiwada regions of Madhya Pradesh that are both known for tiger population. 
  • It was declared a sanctuary in 1982.
• Flora: It has dry teak forests at the foothills and mixed deciduous forests with dry bamboo thickets on the periphery, with a high concentration of Mahua and Jamun trees, key food sources for sloth bears.
• Fauna: It is a crucial habitat for the Sloth Bear, supporting the maximum population of this species in the entire state of Gujarat. It also hosts a large population of leopards.
• Ecological Significance: Forms the catchment of river Panam, supporting water conservation and irrigation in Dahod and Panchmahals districts.