Study highlights the ecological significance of the Indergarh range as a critical buffer for Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan
Jaipur: WWF-India shines a spotlight on the Indergarh range, revealing it as a vital habitat for carnivores and a corridor for wildlife movement across southeastern Rajasthan. The latest study by WWF-India and the Rajasthan Forest Department highlights the ecological significance of Indergarh, connecting the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, emphasising its role in supporting wildlife populations across the wider landscape. The findings were released in a report titled “Status of Carnivores and Other Terrestrial Mammals in the Indergarh Buffer of Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve” at an event in Jaipur on 23 March 2026.
Several dignitaries, including Mr Pavan Kumar Upadhyay, IFS, PCCF (HoFF), PCCF Administration & PCCF Coordination, Rajasthan Forest Department; Mr K.C.A. Arun Prasad, IFS, APCCF & Chief Wildlife Warden of the Rajasthan Forest Department; Mr Yash Magan Shethia, Director, Wildlife and Habitat Division, WWF-India; and Dr Kamlesh K. Maurya, Landscape Coordinator, Western India Conservation Landscape, WWF-India, attended the event along with team members and officials from the Rajasthan Forest Department.
Shri K.C.A. Arun Prasad, Chief Wildlife Warden, said, ‘The Rajasthan Forest Department is committed to the conservation of wildlife. This vital assessment of carnivores and other terrestrial mammals, conducted by WWF-India in collaboration with the Rajasthan Forest Department, offers valuable insights to inform the development of effective conservation and management strategies for the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve within the larger landscape’.
Rajasthan represents the westernmost distribution of tigers and associated carnivores in India, and the areas adjoining the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve, along with the Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, form an important conservation landscape. Within this landscape, the Indergarh range acts as a crucial link, facilitating wildlife movement between forested habitats and supporting long term population viability.
During April–May 2024, WWF-India conducted a species-monitoring exercise using camera traps in the Indergarh range. The study recorded 22 wild mammalian species across 1,696 trap nights, yielding 4,334 independent wildlife records. Herbivores such as nilgai, wild pig, and Indian hare were the most frequently observed species, while other fauna, including peafowl, porcupine, and sambar, were also commonly detected.
The study further identified a viable leopard population in the landscape, with 28 adult individuals documented and an estimated density of 5.76 individuals per 100 km². Occupancy assessments showed that striped hyenas are positively associated with forest cover, golden jackals are associated with areas affected by human activity, and Indian foxes are found in scrub habitats, highlighting the diversity of habitat use among carnivore species in semi-arid ecosystems.
The study also identified several pressures affecting wildlife and their habitats in the region. These include expanding infrastructure such as motorways and railway lines, mining activities, and over exploitation of natural resources. Addressing these challenges will be vital for maintaining ecological connectivity and ensuring the long term survival of wildlife populations.
Dr Kamlesh K Maurya, from WWF-India, who led the study, further adds, “The Indergarh range, forming the buffer of Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve, supports diverse carnivores and serves as a vital link between key reserves such as Ranthambore and Mukundara Hills. The latest survey by WWF-India and Rajasthan Forest Department highlights its importance for sustaining leopard populations, and other threatened flora and fauna, while also underscoring increasing pressures from linear infrastructure and mining, reinforcing the urgent need for strengthened landscape level conservation efforts.”
For more information, please contact Dr Kamlesh K Muraya at kmaurya@wwfindia.net or call him at 7905718296.
