After more than three decades, tigers have returned to Gujarat, with the Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary in the Dahod district now home to a confirmed tiger. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has officially recognized the state's tiger presence, marking Gujarat's reinstatement on India's tiger map and its inclusion in the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2026.

Gujarat had previously been excluded from the national tiger census in 1992 after no tigers were sighted in the 1989 census, which only found pugmarks. A glimmer of hope emerged in 2019 when a tiger was spotted in the Mahisagar district, but it died within two weeks. The recent confirmation comes after a tiger, estimated to be around four years old, was first captured on camera traps in the Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary in February of this year.

Forest officials have been monitoring the tiger's movements for months, confirming that the big cat has settled in the Ratanmahal forest. To ensure the tiger's survival, the forest department has been relocating herbivores to the sanctuary to build a strong prey base. Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia expressed pride in the development, noting that Gujarat now hosts three major big cat species: the Asiatic lion, tiger, and leopard.

The state government is considering declaring Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary a tiger reserve. Modhwadia mentioned the possibility of introducing female tigers to establish a sustainable population and that forest staff will receive specialized training in tiger conservation and breeding.

The Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary, is located in the Dahod district, bordering the Jhabua and Kathiwada regions of Madhya Pradesh. Established in 1982, the sanctuary features dry teak forests and mixed deciduous forests, with a high concentration of Mahua and Jamun trees, which are key food sources for sloth bears. The sanctuary is a crucial habitat for sloth bears, supporting the largest population of the species in Gujarat. The NTCA's confirmation marks a significant milestone in Gujarat's wildlife conservation efforts and highlights the potential for tiger revival in the state.