Ratapani Tiger Reserve
Encyclopedia
The Ratapani Tiger Reserve, located in the Raisen district
of Madhya Pradesh
in central India
, is one of the finest teak forests in the state and is a short drive away from the capital Bhopal. Previously a Wildlife Sanctuary since 1976, the government of India upgraded the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary to tiger reserve status in 2008. Its close proximity to the capital and its relatively untouched forests makes it a promising attraction for tourists and the Madhya Pradesh tourism board plans to make it a wildlife destination in the near future. The reserve is rich in flora and fauna and a wide variety of birds, mammals and reptiles call it their home. Some of them are Tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, striped hyenas, jackals, Indian fox, chital, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, chowsingha, hanuman langur, rhesus macaque and Indian rock python. Decades ago barasingha also used to thrive in Ratapani until they were hunted to extinction by Bhopali shikaaris (hunters). Bhimbetka rock shelters, are located within this tiger reserve.
Raisen District
Raisen District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state of India. The town of Raisen is the district headquarters. The district is part of Bhopal Division.-Etymology:...
of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
in central India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, is one of the finest teak forests in the state and is a short drive away from the capital Bhopal. Previously a Wildlife Sanctuary since 1976, the government of India upgraded the Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary to tiger reserve status in 2008. Its close proximity to the capital and its relatively untouched forests makes it a promising attraction for tourists and the Madhya Pradesh tourism board plans to make it a wildlife destination in the near future. The reserve is rich in flora and fauna and a wide variety of birds, mammals and reptiles call it their home. Some of them are Tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, striped hyenas, jackals, Indian fox, chital, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, chowsingha, hanuman langur, rhesus macaque and Indian rock python. Decades ago barasingha also used to thrive in Ratapani until they were hunted to extinction by Bhopali shikaaris (hunters). Bhimbetka rock shelters, are located within this tiger reserve.