Debrigarh Tiger reserve
Debrigarh Tiger reserve is set to become India’s newest sanctuary for big cats after a remarkable transformation. Once conflict-prone and burdened with human habitation, the 804-square-kilometre forest has now secured approval from the Indian tiger authority (NTCA), opening the door for tigers to reclaim the landscape.
The numbers prove the change. Forty per cent of animal herds now consist of newborns. Indian gaur rose from 670 to more than 700 in just six months. Sambar, spotted deer, wild boar and wild dogs all thrive. Leopards remain strong, ensuring a healthy prey base is in place before tigers return.
This turnaround rests on community partnership. More than 400 families relocated voluntarily, receiving compensation, land, and training. Their move freed 500 hectares of forest, now stable grasslands vital for herbivores. Over 155 villages around Debrigarh have shifted from conflict to collaboration, becoming allies. The transformation reflects the strength of conservation practices when people step back and let nature recover.
Debrigarh Tiger reserve proves that when people step back, nature rebuilds—and tigers find space to come home.
The Debrigarh Tiger reserve article:
Based on Deccan Herald, India.
Photo via PTI, India.
