Uttarakhand

• 30 Mar 2024

Uttarakhand to Translocate Four Tigers to Rajasthan

Why in News?

Recently, the Uttarakhand government has agreed to translocate four tigers to Rajasthan following a request from the authorities.

Key Points

According to guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA),the tigers to be sent to Rajasthan will not be captured from the protected forest area but from the buffer zone.

• A similar request for the relocation of three tigers to Odisha has also been received and it is under consideration.

• The requests from the Rajasthan and the Odisha governments for the translocation of tigers were received following the successful operation of the tiger relocation project in Uttarakhand under which four big cats were translocated from the Corbett Tiger Reserve to Rajaji Tiger Reserve.

National Tiger Conservation Authority

• It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• It was established in 2005 following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.
• It was constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it.

Rajaji Tiger Reserve

• It is located in Haridwar (Uttarakhand), along the foothills of the Shivalik range. It is part of Rajaji National Park.
• Rajaji National Park was established in the year 1983 after amalgamating three sanctuaries in the Uttarakhand i.e., Rajaji, Motichur and Chila.
• It was named after the famous freedom fighter C. Rajgopalachari; popularly known as “Rajaji”.
• It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2015 as the 48^th tiger reserve of the country.

Indian Railway & Uttarakhand Tourism Launches Manaskhand Express

Why in News?

The Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, along with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC), has introduced a new tourist train called the "Manaskhand Express" to promote the hidden gems of the Kumaon Region in Uttarakhand.

Key Points

• The "MANASKHAND EXPRESS - BHARAT GAURAV TOURIST TRAIN" is a special 10 Nights/11 Days tour.
• This unique journey is designed to showcase the divine beauty and cultural richness of Uttarakhand's Devbhoomi, known for its spiritual significance and heritage sites.
• Departing on 22 April 2024, the tour offers a comprehensive exploration of various destinations across Uttarakhand.
  • The train's boarding and deboarding stations include Pune, Lonavala, Panvel, Kalyan, Nashik, Jalgaon, Bhusawal, Khandwa, Itarasi, and Rani Kamlapati, ensuring accessibility for travelers from different regions.
  • Some of the highlights of the tour include visits to Champawat/Lohaghat to explore Baleshwar, Tea Gardens, and Mayawati Ashram, paying homage at Nanda Devi & Kainchi Dham - Baba Neem Karoli Temple, and seeking blessings at Nanakmatta Gurudwara – Khatima & Naina Devi - Nainital.
  • Additionally, participants will have the chance to discover the spiritual aura of Jageshwar Dham & Golu Devta – Chitai and visit Haat Kalika Temple & Patal Bhuvneshwar.