On International Tiger Day, CM Mohan Yadav said in Bhopal that the number of tigers in Madhya Pradesh may soon cross 1000. Many new initiatives were started.
Bhopal. On the occasion of International Tiger Day, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav participated in the state level program organized at Kushabhau Thackeray Auditorium, Bhopal. The program started with the lighting of the lamp. During this, the Chief Minister inaugurated and visited the exhibition based on wildlife conservation activities. New vehicles acquired for wildlife conservation were inaugurated in the programme. School and college students presented a dance-drama based on tiger conservation and gave the message of awareness towards wildlife.
Books and publications related to wildlife conservation released
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav released many important books and documents published by the Forest Department. These included books like “Fluttering Jewels of Satpura” based on the butterflies of Satpura, “Pictorial Herbarium of Kanha Grasses” focused on the grass species of Kanha region, Wildlife Rescue Compilation, Best Practices of Wildlife Conservation in Madhya Pradesh and Biodiversity of Wild Mushrooms in Pench Tiger Reserve. Apart from this, new logos of Ratapani Tiger Reserve and Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve were also unveiled.
Teasers of documentaries on Barasingha and Tiger rewilding launched
At the programme, the Chief Minister also released teasers of documentaries based on Barhasingha rehabilitation in Satpura Tiger Reserve and tiger rewilding in Kanha Tiger Reserve. He honored Padmashree awarded members of the State Wildlife Board, Dr. Narayan Vyas and Mohan Nagar. Also, awards were given to Forest Protection Committees, Eco Development Committees, Village Forest Committees and forest workers who have done excellent work in the field of wildlife conservation.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav joins ‘One Jan-Ek Patti’ campaign
The Chief Minister also participated in the public participation campaign “One People – One Leaf: Public Participation, Power of Conservation” launched by Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve. During this, he carved a picture of a tiger on a leaf-shaped ceramic tile. Hinoti tourist gate will be decorated after preparing these tiles. This initiative is being considered a symbolic effort to connect people with forest and wildlife conservation. In the programme, the artists of Pench Tiger Reserve honored the Chief Minister by presenting him a traditional shawl.
There has always been respect for nature and wildlife in Indian culture.
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that the feeling of respect and co-existence towards nature and wildlife has been present in Indian culture for centuries. The vehicles of our gods and goddesses are also associated with various animals. Tiger is considered to be the vehicle of Goddess Durga, a symbol of power. He said that in Madhya Pradesh, continuous work has been done towards the conservation of many wildlife including tigers, leopards, elephants, gharials and wild buffaloes. The result of this is that today the state is called the Tiger State of the country.
Number of tigers increased from double to 750 in 53 years
The Chief Minister said that about 53 years ago the number of tigers in the state was limited to double figures. In the year 2016, this number reached around 250 and in the census of the year 2022, 750 tigers were recorded in Madhya Pradesh. He expressed confidence that in the upcoming census the number of tigers in the state may cross the figure of one thousand. The Chief Minister described the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the efforts of the Forest Department as important for this.
Chambal described as Asia’s cleanest water river
While congratulating International Tiger Day and Guru Purnima, the Chief Minister said that Madhya Pradesh has a distinct identity in the country in the field of wildlife conservation. He said that Chambal River is counted among the cleanest water rivers of Asia. Continuous efforts have been made here for crocodile conservation. Crocodiles have also been released in the rivers of Kuno area. Apart from this, success has also been achieved in the rehabilitation of wild buffaloes which had become extinct from the state about a century ago.
Technology becomes a big force in elephant management, rhinos will come soon
The Chief Minister said that till a few years ago there was a constant state of concern regarding the activities of elephants, but the Forest Department has controlled this challenge to a great extent with the help of modern technology and innovations. He also informed that work is being done to bring rhinos to the state soon. The government is making continuous efforts to protect the rich biodiversity of Madhya Pradesh.
Every year 28 lakh tourists reach wildlife areas
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Shamita Rajoura said that International Tiger Day is being celebrated every year on 29th July since 2011. He said that the role of Madhya Pradesh in tiger conservation has been very important. He said that every year about 28 lakh tourists come to visit wildlife areas in the state, which includes about one lakh foreign tourists. Various conservation related activities are being conducted in all the nine tiger reserves of the state.
Along with Tiger State, now Cheetah State and Leopard State also in Madhya Pradesh
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Forest Force Chief Shubharanjan Sen Gupta said that Madhya Pradesh has a very rich history of wildlife conservation. Today the state has established its identity as Tiger State as well as Cheetah State and Leopard State. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, new tiger reserves have been established and many important steps have been taken like formation of the only conservation reserve in the state, which has given new strength to wildlife conservation.