Why in news?

Ranipur Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh has become the 53rd tiger reserve in India.

Highlights

• Uttar Pradesh is set to have its fourth tiger reserve.
• Chitrakoot district’s Ranipur Wildlife Sanctuary (RWS) will have a planned reserve, a first in the state’s Bundelkhand region, under tiger reserve Section 38 (v) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.

Ranipur Tiger Reserve

• It is one of the attractions of Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh
• It will be fourth reserve after Dudhwa, Pilibhit and Amangarh
• Its vegetation is mainly tropical dry deciduous forest
• This reserve in the Bundelkhand region of UP is just 150 km from the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh and is home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, sambar, spotter deer, chinkara and several birds are reptiles.

Who can declare tiger reserves in India?

• Tiger Reserves are notified by State Governments as per provisions of Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 on advise of the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority  

• It was established in December 2005, following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister of India
• The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was amended in 2006 to fort the establishment and implementation of the Project Tiger plan to protect endangered tigers.
• It is set up under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Environment and Forests.
• The Authority will have eight experts or professionals having qualifications and experience in wildlife conservation and welfare of people including tribals, apart from three Members of Parliament of whom two will be elected by the House of the People and one by the Council of States.