| Guru Ghasidas - Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve | |
| Iucn Category: | Ia |
| Location: | Spread across 4 Districts - Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur (MCB), Korea, Surajpur, and Balrampur of Chhattisgarh |
| Area Km2: | 2,829.387 |
| Designation: | Tiger Reserve |
| Designated: | 2024 |
Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh is the 56th Tiger Reserve of India announced in November 2024 which is situated across the districts of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur (MCB), Korea, Surajpur, and Balrampur. This tiger reserve covers a total area of, including a core or critical tiger habitat of, which consists of the Guru Ghasidas National Park and the Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary, along with a buffer zone of . This designation positions it as the third largest tiger reserve in the nation, following the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh and the Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam.[1] [2]
The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve received final approval for its notification from the National Tiger Conservation Authority in October 2021.
In accordance with the landscape approach to conservation proposed in India’s National Wildlife Plan, this newly established tiger reserve is adjacent to the Sanjay-Dubri Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, forming a landscape complex that covers nearly . Furthermore, this tiger reserve is connected to the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve to the west and the Palamau Tiger Reserve to the east in Jharkhand.[3]
Situated in the Chhota Nagpur Plateau and extending into the Baghelkhand plateau, the tiger reserve is characterized by its varied landscapes, dense woodlands, and numerous streams and rivers, which create an environment conducive to a rich diversity of fauna and serve as vital habitats for the tiger.[4]
The Zoological Survey of India has recorded a total of 753 species within the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, comprising 365 invertebrates and 388 vertebrates. The invertebrate population is predominantly made up of insects, while the vertebrate population features 230 bird species and 55 mammal species, including several that are classified as threatened.[5]