Thaindian News

Jaipur, Nov 28 (IANS) The Rajasthan government Monday gave its nod to the proposal of declaring Kumbhalgarh and Tatgarh-Raoli areas of the state as a national park to house excess tigers from the Ranthambore National Park, an official said.

The park, covering an area of 509 sq km, will be Rajasthan’s third one after Ranthambore and Keoladeo national parks in Sawai Madhopur and Bharatpur districts, respectively.

It is being planned to accommodate the growing population of tigers in Ranthambore and prevent territorial fights among them.

The park will be developed after clubbing together sanctuary areas of Kumbhalgarh and Tatgarh-Raoli, a senior forest department official told IANS.

He added that the forest department had sent a proposal to the state government regarding this and it has been approved in the cabinet meeting Monday.

The officer said that combination of rocky terrains and dense forests was suitable for a variety of animals, including panthers, leopards, bears, deer and rabbits.

“There is no dearth of prey if the tigers are shifted here,” he said.

The project is likely to give a major boost to the tourism industry in the state.

“The state government will now issue a notification announcing the area as national park. After that, work to shift some of the villages will begin,” he said.

When the new park comes up, the desert state will be one of the few states that can now boast of three tiger projects, a bird sanctuary and 25 wildlife sanctuaries.