Gujarat Regains Tiger Status After 30 Years, To Join AITE 2026

More than 30 years after being removed from India’s official tiger range, Gujarat has once again been recognised as a tiger-bearing state.

The decision follows confirmed photographic and video evidence of a tiger residing in the Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary in Dahod. Gujarat will now be included in the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026, marking a major milestone in the state’s wildlife conservation history.

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Gujarat Regains Tiger Status After 30 Years, To Join AITE 2026

Confirmed Tiger Presence in Ratanmahal Sanctuary

Forest officials have confirmed that a nearly four-year-old tiger has been inhabiting Ratanmahal Sanctuary for around ten months.

Key observations:

Tiger began moving along the Ratanmahal–Madhya Pradesh border in mid-February
Established a stable territorial range inside the forest
Camera-trap images and CCTV footage confirm prolonged presence
Ruled out the possibility of a transient or accidental visit

NTCA Directive and Census Preparations

Following verification of evidence, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) issued a formal directive to initiate tiger conservation measures in Ratanmahal.

Next steps include:

Camera-trap census along the Gujarat–Madhya Pradesh border
Inclusion in AITE 2026, which recently commenced in Indore
The tiger will be radio-collared
Monitoring through stripe-pattern identification software for nationwide tracking

Gujarat’s Long Absence From Tiger Census

Gujarat last featured in the national tiger census in 1989, based on pugmark evidence
Excluded from the 1992 census, leading to removal from India’s tiger map
A lone tiger sighting in 2019 lasted only 15 days

Officials note that the current case is fundamentally different, as it involves documented, long-term habitation rather than a brief incursion.

Future Plans and Cross-Border Monitoring

Authorities will also survey Alirajpur in Madhya Pradesh to check for the presence of a female tiger, as the current male frequently visits the area.

Additional plans

Exam-Oriented Key Facts

Gujarat re-enters India’s tiger map after 30+ years
Ratanmahal Sanctuary is in eastern Gujarat (Dahod district)
Tiger confirmed through camera traps and CCTV
All-India Tiger Estimation is conducted every four years
NTCA supervises tiger conservation in India
Adequate prey base is mandatory before declaring a tiger reserve

Question & Answer

Q1. Which sanctuary has confirmed the presence of a tiger, bringing Gujarat back into India’s tiger range?
(a) Gir National Park
(b) Velavadar National Park
(c) Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary
(d) Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary
Answer: Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary

Q2. Gujarat will be included in which upcoming national wildlife exercise?
(a) Wildlife Census 2025
(b) Project Tiger Review
(c) All-India Tiger Estimation 2026
(d) National Biodiversity Survey
Answer: All-India Tiger Estimation 2026

Q3. The All-India Tiger Estimation is conducted under the supervision of which body?
(a) Wildlife Institute of India
(b) National Tiger Conservation Authority
(c) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(d) Zoological Survey of India
Answer: National Tiger Conservation Authority

Q4. Which technology is used for nationwide tracking of individual tigers?
(a) DNA barcoding
(b) GPS satellite imagery
(c) Stripe-pattern identification software
(d) Thermal imaging
Answer: Stripe-pattern identification software

Q5. Gujarat was last officially included in the national tiger census in which year?
(a) 1973
(b) 1985
(c) 1989
(d) 1995
Answer: 1989

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