Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve

Introduction

The Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve (also known as the Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve) is a vital wildlife sanctuary located in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Named after the historic Queen Rani Durgavati — a brave Gond queen who ruled the region in the 16th century — this reserve is now a growing stronghold of India’s tiger-conservation efforts. It offers a striking blend of natural beauty, rich biodiversity, and historical resonance, making it a valuable subject for your website page.

Location & Landscape

The reserve lies across parts of the Damoh, Sagar and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. 
According to several sources, the notified area of the tiger reserve encompasses approximately 2,339 sq km (~2,339 km²) including core and buffer zones. 
The terrain is varied — characterised by dry deciduous forests, plateaux, valleys, streams and waterbodies. 
This diversity of terrain supports a variety of habitat types, making the reserve ecologically significant.

History & Conservation Significance

• The area was earlier designated as a wildlife sanctuary (the “Veerangana Durgavati Sanctuary”) and in September 2023 the new tiger reserve notification was issued, making it Madhya Pradesh’s 7th tiger reserve. 

• The reserve’s creation is strategically important: for example, it forms part of a “green corridor” linking different forest landscapes, improving habitat connectivity for big-cats. 

• Its naming after Rani Durgavati gives it historical-cultural value, linking nature-conservation with regional heritage.

Biodiversity: Flora & Fauna

Flora

The vegetation in the reserve is predominantly dry or moist-deciduous forest, with species adapted to the plateau and valley terrain. Several sources identify teak and other dry-forest trees. 
There are also open patches, meadows and water-bodies which add to the habitat variety.

Fauna

• The flagship species is the Bengal tiger. The formation of the reserve is aimed at strengthening tiger habitat and monitoring. 

• Other large mammals include leopard, sloth bear, wolf, jackal, chital, nilgai, chinkara and other deer/ungulate species. 

• Birdlife is rich; the diverse terrain supports many species of bird, reptile and amphibian though quantified numbers may be emerging.

• Because of the relatively large area and connection with adjacent forests, the reserve plays an important ecological role in the region.