Melghat Tiger Reserve, Amravati, Maharashtra India

Melghat was declared a Tiger Reserve and was among the first nine Tiger Reserves notified in 1973-74 under the Project Tiger. It is located at 21°26′45″N 77°11′50″E  in northern part of Amravati District of Maharashtra State in India. The Tapti River and the Gawilgadh ridge of the Satpura Range form the boundaries of the Reserve. In 1985 Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary was created.The Tapi river flows through the northern end of the Melghat Tiger Reserve, through a forest which lies within the catchment area of the river system. Many different kinds of wildlife, both flora and fauna, are found here.

The Government of India in consultation with the State Government and in accordance with the recommendations of the Task Force appointed on the matter of Tiger Conservation, by the Indian Board of Wildlife established nine Tiger reserve in the first phase in the country during the year 1973-74. Melghat Tiger Reserve was one of these Nine Tiger Reserve and came in to being on 22.2.1974 initially over an area of 1571.74 Sq. K.m. This was the first Tiger Reserve to be declared in the State of Maharashtra, which subsequently get expanded to 2029.04 Sq. Km.
The Melghat nestling in the Satpuda hill ranges of Forsythls and Dunbar’s Central India with vast tracts of inviolate natural forests consisting of unique and representative ecosystems with rich Bio-diversity and varied habitats offered by deep valleys (locally known as Khoras) and high hills (locally known as Ballas), daunted with rivers and nallahs having water all the year round in the “Doh” was the natural choice for the community of foresters in Maharashtra, when it came to choose an area for preserving it for posterity and for ensuring that the ‘Tiger’ the most magnificent and royal of the wild species, could sustain a viable population and survive for the eternity.

The Management plan for Melghat Tiger Reserve has been sanctioned by the Government for the period 2004-05 to 2013-14. The working in Melghat Tiger Reserve is being carried out as per the sanctioned Management plan.