Ratapani Tiger Reserve
The Ratapani Tiger Reserve, located in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh in central India, is one of the finest teak forests in the state and is a short drive away from the capital Bhopal. It is a Wildlife Sanctuary since 1976. As of March 2013, in principle approval by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has been granted for upgrading it to a status of Tiger Reserve. It will become a Tiger Reserve by the notification of the State Government of Madhya Pradesh. Its close proximity to the capital and its relatively untouched forests makes it a promising attraction for tourists and the Madhya Pradesh tourism board plans to make it a wildlife destination in the near future. The reserve is rich in flora and fauna and a wide variety of birds, mammals and reptiles call it their home. Some of them are Tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, striped hyenas, jackals, Indian fox, chital, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, chowsingha, hanuman langur, rhesus macaque and Indian rock python. Decades ago barasingha also used to thrive in Ratapani until they were hunted to extinction by Bhopali shikaaris (hunters). Bhimbetka rock shelters, are located within this tiger reserve.