The first tiger reserve in India was the Jim Corbett National Park (now known as the Corbett Tiger Reserve). It was chosen as the site of Project Tiger in 1973. Let us learn more about the first tiger reserve of India.
History of Jim Corbett National Park
Jim Corbett National Park was not always known by the name, it was first created as Hailey National Park in 1936 which was the first national park in India. Later it was named as Ramganga National Park in 1954.
In 1956, it was renamed as Jim Corbett National Park to honour Jim Corbett, a hunter turned conservationist. It was chosen as the first site for tiger reserve under the Project Tiger in 1973.
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What was Project Tiger?
Project tiger was a scheme launched by the Government of India for protection and conservation of the Bengal Tiger, which was endangered. This project was started with Jim Corbett National Park as the first reserve, and later 8 other reserves joined the scheme.
Which were the 9 Tiger Reserves under the Project Tiger?
The 9 tiger reserves that were part of the Project Tiger were Corbett, Bandipur, Kanha, Manas, Melghat, Palamau, Ranthambore, Similipal, and Sundarbans. This ensured that the different habitats in which tigers were found in India were protected.
In which state was the first Tiger reserve of India located?
The first tiger reserve of India was Jim Corbett National Park, and it is located in the state of Uttarakhand. It was established in 1973 as a part of the Project Tiger.
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Which among the original 9 tiger reserves do not have any tiger as of now?
Palamau in Jharkhand, one of the 9 original tiger reserves that started the Project Tiger in the 1973, has not reported a tiger population of late.
How many Tiger reserves are there in India?
There are 58 tiger reserves in India as of 2026, and these reserves are spread across 18 states, covering around 2.3% of the total land area of the country.
Which state is known as the Tiger State of India?
Madhya Pradesh is known as the tiger state of India due to the concentration of most number of tiger reserves in India.
Which government body oversees the tiger reserves of India?
The tiger reserves of India is overseen by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, a statutory body that was established in 2006.
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