Ranthambore National Park is a 1,334-square-kilometer national park located in Rajasthan, India. It is surrounded by the Banas River to the north and the Chambal River to the south. The park is named after the old Ranthambore Fort, which is located within it. Ranthambore National Park is one of the largest and most well-known national parks in Northern India. The National park is located in the Sawai Madhopur district in southeastern Rajasthan, approximately 130 kilometers from Jaipur.
History and Features of Ranthambore National Park
In 1955, Ranthambore National Park was formed as the Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary, with an initial area of 281 square kilometers. In 1973, it was designated as one of the Project Tiger reserves, and on November 1, 1980, it became a national park. 1984 saw the establishment of the Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary and the Keladevi Sanctuary in the nearby forests. The Tiger Reserve was expanded in 1992 to encompass the neighboring Keladevi Sanctuary in the north and Sawai Mansingh Sanctuary in the south, as well as adjacent woods.
The Ranthambore National Park contains dry deciduous forests and grassy meadows. The park’s flora consists of 539 species of flowering plants. Padam Talao is the largest of the park’s numerous lakes. At the lake’s side lies a Jogi Mahal constructed of red sandstone. A colossal Banyan tree, believed to be India’s second-largest, is also located close to the lake.
The overall area of the national park, including the buffer zone, is 392 square kilometers. The core region is roughly 275 square kilometers. The tiger reserve covered around 334 square kilometers. Currently, its area is 1334 square kilometers. The height ranges from 215 and 505 meters above mean sea level. The land consists of lush tropical dry forest, open bushland, and rocky terrain with lakes and streams dotted throughout. The ecoregion contains the dry deciduous forests of Khathiar-Gir.
Wildlife of Ranthambore National Park
The leopard, the nilgai, the wild boar, the sambar, the hyena, the sloth bear, and the chital are among the most important wild creatures. It is also home to several trees, plants, birds, and reptiles. The sanctuary is home to an abundance of trees, plants, birds, and reptiles, including one of India’s largest banyan trees. The reserve also boasts a robust bird population, with over 270 different species of birds.
Tigers in Ranthambore
The population of tigers in Ranthambore is renowned. The tiger population in Ranthambhore has decreased over the past few years due to poaching and other factors. As park tourism and the population of neighboring villages increased, fatal interactions between humans and tigers and poaching increased. In 1973, the Indian government initiated Project Tiger and designated 60 mi2 of the park as a tiger sanctuary. This region eventually grew to become the present-day Ranthambore National Park.
In 2005, there were 26 tigers in the reserve, which was significantly fewer than the 44 tigers recorded in 1982. In 2008, a survey conducted by non-government resources revealed that there were 34 adult tigers in Ranthambore. In addition, more than fourteen tiger cubs have been documented, garnering praise for the conservation efforts and wildlife management authority in Ranthambore. This increase was largely attributable to forest officials’ persistent efforts to combat poaching. Villagers in the area were given inducements to avoid the park, and surveillance cameras were installed throughout the preserve. The Indian government has allocated 153 million US dollars for these efforts.
Machli- The Queen of Ranthambore
Because of poaching, a tigress is known as “The Lady of the Lakes” was separated from her parents at a very young age. The young tigress was given the name Machli due to the fish-like marking on her body. Three female cubs, including one known as “Machli – The Junior,” were born to her. According to forest officer Fateh Singh Rathore, the father of Machli Jr. passed away at a young age from an unidentified illness. Machli Jr. gave birth to two cubs, Slant Ear and Broken Tail, after mating with the male tiger Bumburam. Baccha is supposed to be her grandson. The unexpected disappearance of Machli has forest officials worried since, at her advanced age, hunting is challenging.
Machli was discovered and found by forest officials after 26 days. Machli Sr, the oldest tigress in existence at the age of 20, passed away in August 2016. She was the most well-known tigress in the world, as well as the one who was photographed the most. She was responsible for significantly increasing the number of visitors to Ranthambore National Park from all over the world.