Ranipur TR: 4th Tiger Reserve in UP

Context:

The UP cabinet approved the notification of Ranipur Tiger Reserve under Section 38(v) of the Wild life (Protection) Act of 1972.

About Ranipur WS

• Ranipur WS, was founded in 1977, is one of the attractions of Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh.
• It is spread over 230 sq. km and is noted for its diverse wildlife, but is not very frequently visited by tourists because of the difficult access.
• The Ranipur TR has tropical dry deciduous forests and is home to fauna such as tigers, leopards, sloth bears, spotted deer, sambhar, chinkara and a number of birds and reptiles, the statement added.
• The Ranipur TR will be the fourth in UP, after Dudhwa, Pilibhit and Amangarh (buffer of Corbett Tiger Reserve).
• It will also be the first in the state’s portion of the Bundelkhand region, which it shares with neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.

Why make it a tiger reserve?

• RWS has no tigers of its own.
• But pugmarks of the animals are frequently seen there as tigers from nearby Panna frequent it.