13 Nov : The endangered tigers are all set to have new home in the country with the govt approving the take over of eight new forest areas under the flagship conservation programme Project Tiger.
"An allocation of Rs 32 crores has been estimated for tiger conservation in the new tiger reserves during the XIth five-year plan period," a statement from the environment ministry said on Thursday.
Udanti and Sita Nadi wildlife sanctuary to be spread over 1580 sq km area will be the largest among the new reserves.
Anamalai-Parambikulam wildlife sanctuaries covers an area of 1410 sq km area spread over Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Satkosia wildlife sanctuary is spread over 988.30 sq km in Orissa, Kaziranga national park (916.67 sq km) in Assam, Achanakmar wildlife sanctuary (963.27 sq km) in Chattisgarh, Dandeli Wildlife sanctuary and Anshi national park (831.25 sq km) in Karnataka, Sanjay National Park and Sanjay Dubri wildlife sanctuary (831.25 sq km) in Madhya Pradesh and in Mudummalai wildlife sanctuary (321 sq km) in Tamil Nadu.
Last year, the government had approval the setting up of four tiger reserves– Sunabeda Tiger Reserve in Orissa, Shahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh and Ratapani Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
There will be around 40 tiger reserves across the country set up with an aim to protect the endangered species whose numbers have declined to 1,400 according to an estimate by Wildlife Institute of India (WII)