Giving a boost to tiger conservation efforts, the Centre has given in-principle approval for creation of five new tiger reserves in the country.

This was stated by Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan in the Rajya Sabha today.

Spelling out the initiatives taken by Government for conservation of the big cats, the Minister said in-principle approval has been accorded by the National Tiger Conservation Authority for creation of tiger reserves in Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), Ratapani (Madhya Pradesh), Sunabeda (Odisha) and Mukundara Hills (Rajasthan) and Satyamangalam (Tamil Nadu).

The proposed Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve constitutes three wildlife sanctuaries including Darrah, Jawahar Sagar and Chambal.

In her written reply, Natarajan said that final approval has been accorded to Kudremukh (Karanataka) for declaring it as a Tiger Reserve.

States have also been advised to send proposals for declaring areas including Bor, Nagzira—Navegaon (Maharashtra), Suhelwa (Uttar Pradesh), Guru Ghasidas National Park (Chhattisgarh), Mhadei Sanctuary (Goa) and Sriviiliputhur Grizzled Giant Squirrel/Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuaries/ Varushanadu Valley (Tamil Nadu) as tiger reserves.

The Minister said country-level tiger population, estimated once in every four years using refined methodology, has shown an increasing trend with a population estimate of 1,706, lower and upper limits being 1,520 and 1,909 respectively in 2010 as compared to the 2006 estimation of 1,411, the lower and upper limits being 1,165 and 1,657 respectively.

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