About Melghat Tiger Project
The area shown below in the table of Melghat, Wan and Ambabrwa sanctuaries includes non forest area also but in the notification issued for the respective sanctuaries, the non forest area is excluded. The Melghat, nestling in the Satpuda hill ranges of Forsyth’s and Dunbar’s Central India’s vast tracts of inviolate natural forests, consisting of unique and representative ecosystems with rich biodiversity and varied habitats offered by deep valleys (locally known as khoras) and high hills (locally known as Ballas), daunted with rivers and nallahs having water all the year round in the ‘doh’, was the natural choice for the community of foresters in Maharashtra, when it came to choose an area for preserving it for posterity and for ensuring that the ‘Tiger’ the most magnificent and flagship of the Indian wild species, could sustain a viable population and survive for the eternity. The fascinating landscape, its enchanting beauty and richness leave everlasting imprints on people visiting the area. Melghat Tiger Reserve is one of the earliest 9 Tiger Reserves established by the Government of India and is the First Tiger Reserve to be declared in the State of Maharashtra. It came into being on 22nd February, 1974.
| Sr.No. | Tiger Reserve and Its Constituent National Park/Sanctuaries | Area (Sq.Kms) | Notification No. |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
| 1 | Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve | ||
| (1) Tadoba NP | 116.55 |
(1) Madhya Pradesh Act No.VII of 1955, No. WLP. 1085/CR-75/F-5 (III), Dated 25-02-1986 |
|
| (2) Andhari WLS | 509.27 | ||
| Total for Tadoba-Andhari Reserve | 625.82 | ||
| 2. | Pench Tiger Reserve | ||
| (1) Pench NP | 257.26 |
(1) No.PGS.1375/121758/F-1, Dated 22-11-1975 |
|
| Total for Pench Tiger Reserve | 257.26 | ||
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) |
| 3. | Melghat Tiger Reserve | ||
| 1. Gugamal NP | 361.28 |
No.WLP.1098/CR-135/F-1, Dated 08-08-2000. |
|
| 2. Melghat WLS | 788.75 |
No.WLP.10-2000/CR-41/F-1, Dated 06-11-2000. |
|
| 3. Narnala WLS | 12.35 |
No.WLP.1096/CR-279/F-1, Dated 02-05-1997. |
|
| 4. Ambabarwa WLS | 127.11 |
No.WLP.1094/CR-123/F-1, Dated 09-04-1997. |
|
| 5. Wan WLS | 211.00 |
No.WLP.1097/CR-5/F-1, Dated 27-07-1997. |
|
| Total For Melghat Tiger Reserve | 1500.49 | ||
Name, Location, Constitution and Extent
(i) Name: The area of the Critical Tiger Habitat is 1500.49 Sq.Km., falling in the heart of the Melghats. Out of this, 1150.03 Sq.Km. (Gugamal and Melghat Sanctuary) belongs to the initially declared Melghat Tiger Reserve which was declared on 22nd February 1974 and the remaining area of three Wildlife Sanctuaries namely Wan, Ambabarwa and Narnala, added to it on 27/12/2007 now comprise the core area of the Critical Tiger Habitat of the Melghat Tiger Reserve
(ii) Location: Situated in Satpuda hill ranges of Central India, the area of Critical Tiger Habitat of the Melghat Tiger Reserve lies in Melghat forests of Amravati, Akola and Buldhana Districts of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, bordering Madhya Pradesh in the North and East. This area is geographically located as below.
Latitude: Between 210 441 N and 210 081 N
Longitude: Between 760 391 E and 770 311 E
Administratively, the area of Gugamal National Park, Melghat Sanctuary and Wan Sanctuary falls in Dharni and Chikhaldara Tahsils of Amravati District, Ambabarwa Sanctuary falls in Sangrampur Tahsil of Buldhana District and Narnala Sanctuary is in Akot Tahsil of Akola District. For control and Management purpose, the area of the Critical Tiger Habitat is included in three Wildlife divisions, namely; Sipna Wildlife Division, Paratwada, Gugamal Wildlife Division, Paratwada and Akot Wildlife Division, Akot.
Bio-Geographic Location.
1.05 Satpuda maikal division of Melghat Tiger Reserve is located in 6 E central Highlands Biotic province of “6 Deccan Peninsula” Bio-geographic zone.
Extent and Constitution of Area
The area of Critical Tiger Habitat extends over 1500.49 Sq.Km. consisting of 5 protected areas namely, Gugamal National Park, Melghat Sanctuary, Narnala, Ambabarwa and Wan Sanctuaries.