Wed Nov 19 13:10:44 UTC 2025: Summary:
After over three decades of absence, a tiger has established residency in Gujarat’s Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary. This development has been confirmed by forest officials after the big cat was consistently sighted on CCTV cameras over the past nine months. State Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia announced the news, highlighting the state now being home to lions, leopards, and tigers. The government has increased the prey base in the sanctuary and is seeking guidance from the National Tiger Conservation Authority. Tigers had previously disappeared from Gujarat in 1989, and a brief sighting in 2019 was followed by the tiger’s death.
News Article:
Tiger Returns to Gujarat After 36 Years, Sparks Hope for Revival
Ahmedabad – In a momentous development for wildlife conservation, a tiger has made Gujarat’s Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary its home, marking the return of the striped predator after an absence of over three decades. State Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia announced the news, confirming the big cat’s presence through consistent CCTV footage captured over the past nine months.
“Gujarat is now the abode of three big cats – the lion, leopard, and tiger,” stated Modhwadia, highlighting the significance of this resurgence. Tigers were once abundant in the state but gradually disappeared, with the last recorded sighting in 1989.
The wandering tiger was first spotted in February 2025, and forest officials have been closely monitoring its movements since. To ensure the tiger’s survival, the state government has relocated herbivores to increase the prey base within the sanctuary.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority has been informed about the tiger’s presence, and the state is seeking their guidance on future conservation efforts. While a tiger was briefly sighted in 2019, it died shortly after, making this a significant step towards the potential revival of tiger populations in Gujarat.
First Piper 