RATAPANI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Madhya Pradesh State Wildlife Board has accorded approval to declare Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary, on the outskirts of Bhopal, as the eighth tiger reserve of MP.

Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary

• About: It stretches across 823 sq. km in the Raisen and Sehore districts of Madhya Pradesh.
• Geography: This rocky forest with an aquatic environment is spread on the Vindhya Hills and runs parallel on the northern side of the Narmada River. The Kolar River forms the western boundary.
• Historical Background: The sanctuary was first notified in 1976, extended in 1983, and declared a Tiger Reserve in 2008.
• Cultural Significance: The Sanctuary is home to Bhimbetika, a group of rock shelters and paintings, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Landscape: The terrain is rugged, featuring hills, valleys, plateaus, and plains.
• Flora: The forest consists of dry deciduous and moist deciduous types, with about 55% covered by teak. The remaining mixed forests include various dry deciduous species.
• Fauna: The apex predator is the regal striped tiger, with an estimated 40 individuals. The Sanctuary also houses the endangered Chinkara and other animals like the Panther, Hyena, Jackal, Indian Fox, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, Small Indian Civet, Blue Bull, Black Buck, Chausingha, Spotted Deer, and Barking Deer.