Celebrating 18 Years of Tiger Reintroduction in Sariska

A Milestone Event in Wildlife Conservation

Today marks the 18th anniversary of the Tiger Reintroduction Project in Sariska, celebrated with a grand national seminar. This event has brought together leading wildlife conservation officials, scientists, policymakers, and field directors from tiger reserves across the country.

This gathering is not merely a celebration of a milestone; it commemorates a remarkable journey that has revitalized a forest where the roar of tigers had once vanished completely. The seminar was inaugurated by Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, alongside Sanjay Sharma, the State Minister for Forest and Environment in Rajasthan.

In his address, the Union Minister emphasized that the success of Sariska is not just a victory for Rajasthan but for all of India. He highlighted that India is now home to the largest population of wild tigers globally, with Sariska serving as a prime example of how scientific planning, political will, and community involvement can revive endangered wildlife populations.

Sushil Awasthi, the Director General of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), remarked, "Today is a historic day marking the beginning of the return of tigers to Sariska 18 years ago. Sariska has made history, and we are now working on strengthening wildlife corridors across the country to ensure safe passage for tigers and other wildlife."

He further noted that future conservation efforts will extend beyond protected areas, aiming to develop strategies at the landscape level.

Key Contributions from Senior Officials

The seminar featured participation from senior officials of forest departments and wildlife conservation across the nation. Notable attendees included:

Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Sanjay Sharma, State Minister for Forest and Environment, Rajasthan

Sushil Awasthi, DG of NTCA

Sanjay Kumar, Additional DG (Forest)

S.P. Yadav, DG of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

Chief Wildlife Wardens from 11 states

Field Directors from over 20 tiger reserves

Senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers

Wildlife scientists

Conservation biologists

Experts from research institutions

Senior officials from the Rajasthan Forest Department.

These officials shared insights on future conservation policies, modern technologies, human-wildlife conflict, corridor development, and scientific monitoring.