Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve
Why in News?
The Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve is recently in the news because, as of April 1, 2026, the reserve management has officially assumed unified control over its notified buffer area. This administrative shift, finalized by a government resolution, is expected to double the reserve's managed size to approximately 1,305.88 square kilometres.
Key Information
- Location: Situated in the Gondia and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra.
- Composition: Formed in December 2013 as India's 46th Tiger Reserve, it integrates:
- Navegaon National Park and Navegaon Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Nagzira, New Nagzira, and Koka Wildlife Sanctuaries.
- Strategic Importance: Located in the heart of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, it provides vital connectivity between major reserves like Kanha, Pench, and Tadoba.
- Flora & Fauna:
- Vegetation: Characterized by Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest.
- Wildlife: Home to tigers, leopards (including rare melanistic leopards or black panthers), sloth bears, gaurs, and over 300 bird species.
- Topography: Features undulating terrain with the highest point being Zenda Pahad at 702 metres above sea level.
- Management Efficiency: This unified control allows for better micro-planning, faster fund release, and enhanced coordination to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
- Ecological Milestones: Recent successful conservation efforts include the translocation of 73 spotted deer (chital) from Tadoba-Andhari to NNTR to bolster the prey base.
- Cultural Significance: The name "Navegaon" comes from the 400-year-old Navegaon Bandh lake, while "Nagzira" refers to an ancient Snake (Nag) temple and a perennial water source (zira).
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