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History Of Ranthambore

The Forest of Ranthambore derives its name from the fort of Ranthambore. It is situated in the jungle's middle and witnesses the vibrant long history of this imperial era. During this regal era, pre-independence, there are was an enormous cover of the forest spanning almost across the entire sub-continent of India. But, as the population grew with time, and as the industrial development began, catering to be people's needs. The exploitation of the forests began that led to the destruction of green cover. Shrinking cover of the forest and the wildlife in this country compelled the Rajasthan government for giving attention to the mounting problem. Thus, in response, multiple policies got introduced for saving all the jungles and wild inhabitants by converting the reserved forests into National Parks.

Exclusive ground for hunting
Before the imperial era's end in Rajasthan, the forest of Ranthambore was used by the Jaipur Kingdom’s royal members as hunting grounds, exclusively. Jaipur Maharajah managed and owned their department of hunting. Village’s residents living around the jungle were permitted to take the produce from the forests after they paid a small yearly tax. This tax was paid to the treasury department of the Government. During the Maharaja's time, there was a low density of population, and this laid no impact on jungles because of human interference. Even being the place of hunting for the Royals of Jaipur, there was not severe damage that disturbed the population of the abundant species of wildlife.

Diminishing forests led to a decrease in the count of the wild predators
Even with occasional practices of hunting, there was no change in the forest wildlife population, but with forest areas getting exploited, the results were shocking. Thus, in the year of 1953, The Government of Rajasthan provided legal protection to Rajasthan's forests. Though this was not quite enough for ultimately safeguarding the cover of the woods, the exploitation could be slowed down. In the year 1955, the entire cover of the forest around Ranthambore NP came to be known as the Sanctuary of Sawai Madhopur. This status stopped any commercial activity, and illegal practices were prohibited entirely. A program of tiger conservation instigated by the Indian Government during 1973 helped in saving the extinction of tigers. Area of sixty square miles has been taken under the scheme of Project tiger. This area has been declared as the area for Tiger Reserve.

Shifting of twelve villages
By the year of 1980, shifting of more than twelve communities happened outside the sanctuary. Around two hundred eighty point three kilometers of areas are flagged as the area of the NP. Since then, NP and the Tiger Reserve area have increased with the passage of time by mustering the adjacent areas of forests in the zone that is protected. In the year 1983, about six hundred forty-seven kilometers of forest lay adjacent to Ranthambore NP's north side. Ranthambore National Park spans across three hundred and ninety-two square kilometers. Out of which, core area constitutes 282 square kilometers and the rest 110 square kilometers is buffer area. Zone of a tiger reserve in the forest was set up in the year 1973, and then it spanned across 334 square kilometers. In the year 1991, adjacent Kailaladevi and the Sawai Man Singh sanctuaries got together. Therefore, the area under the tiger reserve has risen to 1334 square kilometers.

A mixed bag of the present and the past
The Ranthambore National Park is sprinkled with ancient structures that are one of a kind. It is an amalgamation of modern era mixed with the prehistoric era amidst an exotic landscape. Water holes, channels, and numerous lakes are scattered all across the Park that offers the trippers an incredible sight besides nourishing the region’s fauna and flora. According to the census report of 2014, the tiger count reached 64 in the area of Tiger reserve.