A two-day consultative workshop was organized by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, at the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area (GHNPCA) in Sairopa, Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), on March 15–16. During the workshop, the nomination dossier being prepared for the Satpura Tiger Reserve was reviewed.
This dossier is being compiled with the objective of securing the Satpura Tiger Reserve’s inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This initiative is expected to not only establish the Satpura region’s identity on a global stage but also provide a new direction for its conservation, biodiversity enhancement, and sustainable tourism.
The workshop featured detailed discussions regarding the progress of the nomination dossier, requisite documentation, and preparations aligned with international standards. The event was attended by wildlife scientists, subject-matter experts, and representatives from relevant organizations.
The Satpura Tiger Reserve was included in UNESCO’s Tentative List in 2021. It has been proposed for inclusion in the World Heritage List under natural criteria (vii), (ix), and (x). Prominent among these criteria are the region’s unique natural beauty, its ecosystems, the conservation of evolutionary processes, and the significance of its rich biodiversity and wildlife habitats.
Satpura national park, along with its surrounding buffer-zone area, has a large and diversified population of wildlife. There are 50 species of mammals, 254 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles, and 50 species of butterflies that are found in the park.
Mammals include spotted deer, sambhar, gaur, Nilgai, Indian muntjac, Porcupine, Pangolin, Indian Giant squirrel, Flying squirrelsfour-horned antelope, chinkara, black buck, barasingha, mouse deer, tigers, leopards, wild boar, dholes, sloth bear, Rhesus monkeys, langurs and Marsh crocodile.
In 2015, 98 Barasingha were reintroduced to Satpura Tiger Reserve from Kanha Tiger Reserve. In 2024, there were 200 Barasingha in Satpura Tiger Reserve.
Satpura Tiger Reserve is home to many birds species including Hornbill, peafowl, pigeon hawks, crested serpent eagle, owls, crow pheasants, Malabar whistling Thrush, Paradise Fly-catcher, Honey Buzzard, Malabar pied Hornbill. There is presence of wide variety of flower species and moist conditions thus are ideal conditions for various butterfly species to flourish like Oakleaf, Black Rajah, Great Eggfly.
