Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve

State

Rajasthan

History

Altitude (above M.S.L.)

215 - 505 m

The park is filled with remnants of its historic past. The Ranthambhore Ford, old wells, mosques and other structures bear mute testimony of kingdoms and battles long forgotten. Overgrown with pipal trees, they perfectly blend in with their natural surroundings. Tigers have often been seen roaming about in these ruins. The Tiger Reserves was established in 1973.

Area

Total

1334.6 km²

Core

274.5 km²

Buffer

1060.1 km²

Fauna and Flora

The Tiger Reserve consists of distinct geographical areas linked by narrow valleys to the core. An estimated 34 tigers are found in Ranthambhore. Due to the open forests they are readily seen.

Temperature

4°C - 47°C

Rainfall (per annum)

800 mm

Seasons

Winter

Nov - Feb

Fauna

Summer

Mar - Jun

Tiger, leopard, caracal, jungle cat, sloth bear, chital, chinkara, sambar, blue bull, wild boar, jackal, common fox, hyena, common langur, ratel, etc.

Monsoon

Jul - Sep

Forest Types

Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests

Funds

Insufficient & delayed

Management Objectives

Staff

Untrained & understaffed

Anti-poaching and controlled tourism are priorities. 12 villages have been relocated outside the reserve, grazing is restricted and rights to fuel wood and timber collection limited to certain areas.

Problems

There is considerable grazing pressure which has adversely affected regeneration. The grasses in the buffer zone have deteriorated so severely that they are no longer useful for ungulates. Diseases such as Foot and Mouth, Black Quarter and Haemorhapic Septicmis have. Human encroachment and poaching are also a problem. Prosopis juliflora trees from old plantations have invaded parts of the reserve, causing a threat to the natural forest.

External Influences
(1991 census)

Villages

332

Human population

100,000

Livestock numbers

143,500