Achanakmar Tiger Reserve : Increase In Tiger Count
Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh witnessed a significant increase in Tiger count from 5 to 10, according to the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2022 census.
- Achanakmar Tiger Reserve is situated in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh.
- Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1975 and was declared a tiger reserve in 2009.
- It covers an area of 553.286 sq. km.
- It is part of the huge Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.
- It has a corridor connecting Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and plays a critical role in the dispersal of tigers among these reserves.
- The Maniyari River flows right from the centre of this reserve, which is the forest’s lifeline.
- It is home to the Baigas, a forest-dwelling tribal community classified as a “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)”.
- In 626 hectares of the core area of the reserve, there are 25 forest villages, with approximately 75 percent of the population belonging to the Baiga tribe and the remaining consisting of the Gond and Yadav communities.
