Ahmedabad: In a historic development for wildlife conservation in Gujarat, a wandering tiger has officially made Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary its new home—more than three decades after tigers were declared extinct in the state. The rare sighting has sparked renewed optimism about the possible revival of the species in a region long known as the last refuge of Asiatic lions.
The tiger, which entered Gujarat around nine months ago, has been under close observation by forest officials. Its presence has now prompted State Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia to announce that Gujarat has become the “abode of three big cats”—lion, leopard, and now tiger.
Modhwadia noted that Gujarat once had a significant tiger population, but the species gradually disappeared over time. Announcing the breakthrough, he said, “Forest officials have confirmed that a tiger that wandered into Gujarat nearly nine months ago has made Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary in Dahod district its new home.”
The animal was first captured on CCTV cameras installed inside the sanctuary in February this year. Since then, forest staff have continuously monitored its movement. “During the last nine months, this tiger was captured at regular intervals on our cameras, which has established that the big cat has settled in the Ratanmahal forest,” the minister said, adding that the tiger appeared healthy and adapting well to its new habitat.
To support its survival, the forest department has already relocated herbivores into the sanctuary to ensure a sufficient prey base.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has been notified about the tiger’s presence, and the state has sought guidance on future conservation measures.
According to forest department records, tigers went extinct in Gujarat in 1989. In a rare incident in February 2019, a tiger was spotted in Lunawada tehsil of Mahisagar district, but conservation hopes were dashed when the big cat was found dead just two weeks later.
With the new tiger now settling in Ratanmahal, wildlife experts and authorities hope this marks the beginning of a long-term revival of the species in the state.