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THE STATE OF THE TIGER
Acknowledgements  
Introduction  
National Update  
International Trade  
MP Tiger State  
  • Empty Promises
    		•  
  • Ideas behind
  • The Tiger Cell
    		•  
  • Foundation Society
    		•  
  • Masquerade
    		•  
  • "Tiger Census"
    		•  
  • "Safari" Tigers
    		•  
    Poaching and Trade  
    Timber Mafia  
    Fish Mafia  
    Mining  
    Indrawati  
    Staff Issues  
    Nationwide  
    Kaziranga  
    Conclusions  
    Madhya Pradesh: The Tiger State - The Ideas behind "The Tiger State"


    On the 22nd September 1994, the then Central government Minister of Environment and Forests, Kamal Nath (whose constituency is the District of Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh), wrote to the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijay Singh proposing that Madhya Pradesh should be known as "The Tiger State".

    In recognising that Madhya Pradesh was home to a significant population of the world's tigers, he suggested that a whole new approach for the conservation of the State's natural heritage be adopted by using the tiger as a symbol. He also felt that this would assist with the development of tribal peoples.

    The central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh is one of the most critical areas for the future survival of wild tigers. As home to over 30% of the Indian population of tigers believed to be around 3000, it is accountable for around 15-20% of the world's total population, estimated between 5,000 - 7,500.

    Madhya Pradesh can boast five Project Tiger Reserves, including the area immortalised by Kipling, Kanha Tiger Reserve, and a further 39 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries covering approximately 3.7% of the geographic area of the State. According to the latest reports, over half of Madhya Pradesh's tigers are outside of these Protected Areas.

    Madhya Pradesh accounts for approximately 21% of the national forest cover while approximately 30.5% of the area of the State is believed to be under forest.

    As well as being an important home for the tiger, critical populations of other endangered fauna are found in Madhya Pradesh, including the Upland Barasingha (Cervus duvacelli branderi), endemic to Kanha Tiger Reserve and one of only two genetically pure populations of wild Indian Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is found in the Bastar - Rapur districts.


    Digvijay Singh recognised the threats to the tiger and the advantages in such a declaration. In October 1994 he constituted a Tiger State Committee with the immediate instruction to prepare a strategy paper. Chaired by the State Forest Secretary, the committee included both State and national forest and tourism officials as well as key wildlife advisors including Valmik Thapar and Bittu Sahgal.

    As authors of the "Phase 1" action plan for the Tiger State, Thapar and Sahgal recommended that the Tiger State's priorities were to address issues of infrastructure, communication and mobility of the Chief Wildlife Warden's office and staff, funding, man-management and education of the Indian public.

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