The first day of a major tiger census in central Madhya Pradesh has yielded highly encouraging results, confirming the critical importance of a forest corridor connecting key tiger habitats. The districts of Indore, Burhanpur, and Dewas, which serve as a vital link between the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary and Maharashtra's Melghat Tiger Reserve, have shown significant evidence of both tiger and leopard activity.
Ground Teams Uncover Widespread Signs
On Thursday, forest department teams spread out across 103 designated beats within the Indore Forest Division, covering the Indore, Choral, Mhow, and Manpur ranges. According to Indore's Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Pradeep Mishra, the initial survey was highly productive. Tiger pugmarks and other signs were detected in 21 beats, with a strong concentration in the Choral Range, which alone reported indicators from 18 beats.
Leopard presence was even more widespread, with signs found in 74 beats, solidifying the leopard's status as the dominant predator across this landscape. While the Mhow and Indore ranges showed sparse tiger signs, the Manpur Range and the Ralamandal Sanctuary primarily recorded leopard movement on this first day.
Positive Signals from Neighboring Districts
The optimism extended to neighboring districts. In Burhanpur, DFO Vidya Bhushan Singh reported a remarkably positive start, with tiger pugmarks discovered in 7 out of the 8 forest ranges surveyed. Officials attribute this strong presence to the district's proximity to the Melghat Tiger Reserve, suggesting tigers are not just surviving but actively thriving and moving through these forested fringes.
Similarly, in Dewas, surveys conducted earlier this month confirmed tiger presence in 5 out of 8 ranges. The focus now shifts to the Kheoni Wildlife Sanctuary, which forest sources describe as a stable habitat for at least 10 tigers, including several cubs.
A Corridor Crucial for Survival
Senior officials emphasize that the movement of tigers through this Indore-Dewas-Burhanpur belt is non-negotiable for the long-term survival of the species in Central India. This forested tract acts as an indispensable biological bridge, or 'Tiger Corridor,' between the Ratapani and Melghat reserves.
This connectivity allows for essential genetic exchange between tiger populations and provides a natural "spillover" zone for young, dispersing tigers in search of new territories. The successful use of this corridor is a positive sign for meta-population health.
"Phase I sets the base for the entire estimation," stated Indore DFO Pradeep Mishra. "Our teams are ensuring every beat is covered to contribute accurately to the national assessment." The census continues, with the initial data painting a promising picture of big cat conservation in this strategically vital region.
