Alwar, June 28: The Sariska Tiger Reintroduction Program, which made history as the world’s first successful tiger reintroduction initiative, celebrated its 18th anniversary on Sunday with a national workshop in Alwar. This event was organized by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
The workshop was inaugurated by Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister for Forests and Environment, along with Sanjay Sharma, the Minister of State for Forests in Rajasthan. Officials from various states shared insights on the status of tiger conservation, challenges, and wildlife habitat management experiences. Forest officials from Madhya Pradesh also discussed their ongoing cheetah reintroduction program and related experiences.
During the event, Minister Bhupender Yadav congratulated the citizens and environmentalists on the 18th anniversary of tiger reintroduction in the Sariska Tiger Reserve. He noted that an area once devoid of tigers has now become a symbol of rich biodiversity. The current presence of 56 tigers in Sariska highlights the success of this conservation model.
He emphasized that this is not just about the return of tigers, but a compelling story of nature’s revival, scientific conservation, and collective resolve. The Sariska tiger reintroduction program has become an exemplary model for wildlife conservation, not only in India but globally.
Minister Sanjay Sharma elaborated on the achievements and challenges faced by Sariska and other forest areas in Rajasthan. He pointed out that in regions where tigers had once completely vanished, their numbers are now steadily increasing. After the workshop, participants will visit the Sariska Tiger Reserve to understand conservation efforts on the ground.
He stated that significant historical work is being done in the Sariska Tiger Reserve with the support of the forest department, and there is no doubt that even better work is on the horizon. The event included chief wildlife wardens from 11 tiger-populated states and field directors from 20 tiger reserves and national parks.
Dr. S.P. Yadav, DG of IBCA, remarked, “The workshop held today is very important and necessary. In many of our tiger reserves, the number of tigers has either exceeded their capacity or is nearing the limit. Additionally, there are tiger reserves in the country where tigers are absent or their numbers are very low. Environmentalists and wildlife conservationists are expressing concerns that the success of ‘Project Tiger’ and the growing tiger population are now presenting new challenges, as this increases human-tiger conflicts.”
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