Tiger Population Doubles in Chhattisgarh’s Achanakmar Reserve, Conditions Ideal for Further Growth

The tiger population in Chhattisgarh’s Achanakmar Reserve has doubled to 10 since 2017, with rising prey availability and better conservation efforts. WWF India recommends further monitoring and community co-management. A nationwide tree-planting initiative was also launched to restore habitats across India’s 58 tiger reserves on Global Tiger Day.

The tiger population in Chhattisgarh’s Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (ATR) has doubled over seven years, according to a new report by WWF India and the state forest department. From just five tigers in 2017—including only one tigress—the reserve now boasts 10 resident big cats, including three males and seven breeding-age females, as recorded in 2024 through camera trap data.

This significant growth marks the first time in 15 years that the reserve has achieved a healthy sex ratio and multiple breeding tigers, laying the foundation for continued population growth. “Conditions appear to be ripe for the population to grow steadily,” the report noted.

The increase is attributed not just to protection efforts but also to improved prey availability. The population density of wild ungulates—the primary prey of tigers—has also risen, especially in the Achanakmar and Chhaparwa ranges, which are heavily used by tigers. Meanwhile, areas like Lamni and Surahi with fewer prey show lower tiger presence, highlighting zones for potential restoration.

WWF India has recommended the use of radio collars on select tigers to better understand habitat use and foraging patterns. The report also called for cooperation between the forest department, NGOs, and local communities to co-manage the landscape under Community Forest Resource Rights.

It emphasized the importance of wildlife corridors linking Achanakmar to Kanha and Bandhavgarh reserves, which play a critical role in dispersal and genetic diversity.

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Separately, marking Global Tiger Day, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched a nationwide tree-planting drive aimed at restoring habitats in all 58 tiger reserves, including the planting of over 1 lakh indigenous saplings.