|
News »
National
Tiger reserve status
for Rajaji Park
C. K. Chandramohan
The Union
government has given the nod to a proposal to grant the
Rajaji National Park in Uttarakhand the status of a tiger
reserve.It will be the second tiger reserve in the State
after the Corbett National Park. Announcing this here over
the weekend, Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) S.S.
Sharma said the elevated status would go a long way in
conservation of tigers in the region.
There are at
present 42 tiger reserves in the country. Citing a
communication received from the Centre in this regard, Mr.
Sharma said the tiger reserve at the Rajaji National Park
would cover an area of 1,150 sq.km, including Shyampur of
the Haridwar forest division, Kotdwar and
Laldhang
ranges. Tigers are present in the Chilla and Dhaulkhand
ranges of the park, which is spread over 820 sq.km in
Haridwar, Dehra Dun and Pauri Garhwal districts. It has the
largest elephant population in the State besides tigers,
deer and other animals. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna made
an announcement in this regard on April 1 after which the
State Wildlife Board sent a proposal to the Centre which was
accepted, Mr. Sharma said. |
