In a landmark development for wildlife conservation Gujarat has been officially reinstated as a tiger bearing state after a gap of 33 years. The decision was taken by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which has confirmed Gujarat’s inclusion in the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026 following sustained evidence of tiger presence in the Ratanmahal Sanctuary. This move marks Gujarat’s return to India’s official tiger map which is strengthening the country’s conservation narrative under Project Tiger.
Reason Of Gujarat Exclusion Earlier
- Gujarat last featured in the national tiger census in 1989, when forest officials recorded pugmarks but failed to establish confirmed sightings.
- Due to the absence of photographic or physical evidence, the state was excluded from the 1992 tiger census, effectively removing it from the list of tiger states.
- Since then, only one confirmed tiger sighting occurred in 2019 but the animal survived for just 15 days failing to establish a viable presence.
- As a result Gujarat remained outside the formal tiger estimation framework for more than three decades.
Ratanmahal Sanctuary and the New Tiger Presence
- The turning point came with the confirmed presence of a nearly four-year-old tiger in the Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary, located in Dahod district along the Gujarat Madhya Pradesh border.
- The tiger reportedly entered the region in mid-February 2025 and has since maintained a stable presence for nearly ten months.
- Continuous camera-trap photographs and CCTV footage provided clear evidence of sustained habitation rather than transient movement.
- Based on this data, the NTCA formally issued directions to implement tiger conservation measures in the sanctuary, paving the way for Gujarat’s reinstatement.
Inclusion in All India Tiger Estimation 2026
- The All India Tiger Estimation 2026, one of the world’s largest wildlife population surveys, began recently in Indore.
- Following the NTCA’s decision, Gujarat will now be part of this extensive exercise for the first time since 1989.
- Officials associated with the census have confirmed that a dedicated camera-trap survey will be conducted along the Gujarat Madhya Pradesh border.
- As the tiger has not yet been radio-tagged, it will be tagged during the census, enabling scientific tracking of its movement across state boundaries.
Use of Technology in Tiger Monitoring
- An important aspect of Gujarat’s inclusion is the planned use of Stripe Pattern Recognition Software a key technological tool under AITE.
- Once trained Gujarat forest officials will be able to monitor the tiger’s movements not only within the state but also across the national tiger landscape.
- This reflects India’s increasing reliance on technology-driven wildlife conservation, combining camera traps, AI-based pattern recognition, and real-time data sharing.
Key Takeaways
- Gujarat reinstated as a tiger state after 33 years
- Decision taken by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- Tiger confirmed in Ratanmahal Sanctuary, Dahod district
- Included in All India Tiger Estimation 2026
- Use of camera traps and stripe recognition software
- Potential proposal to declare Ratanmahal a Tiger Reserve
Question
Q. Ratanmahal Sanctuary is located in which district of Gujarat?
A. Panchmahal
B. Dahod
C. Narmada
D. Banaskantha