Madhya Pradesh: World’s First Dedicated White Tiger Safari In MP Set For Expansion, Breeding CENTRE On Anvil
"The expansion of the Mukundpur White Tiger Safari is not only important for the tourism perspective but will also provide a new dimension to wildlife conservation, biodiversity enhancement, research and public awareness”: Dr. Shukla
BHOPAL: World’s first dedicated White Tiger Safari at Mukundpur in Madhya Pradesh’s Maihar district is set for expansion to develop it into a wildlife conservation, breeding and eco-tourism hub of India.
A master plan prepared for period 2026-27 to 2045-46 for expansion of the unique safari was reviewed at a high-level official meeting, chaired by deputy chief minister Dr. Rajendra Shukla, here on Monday.
“The expansion of the Mukundpur White Tiger Safari is not only important for the tourism perspective but will also provide a new dimension to wildlife conservation, biodiversity enhancement, research and public awareness”, Dr. Shukla said.
The expansion plan envisages creation of modern naturalistic wild animal enclosures, conservation breeding Centre, and wildlife rescue facility.
As per the master plan, the Mukundpur White Tiger Safari will be expanded from its existing area of 121.99 hectares to 241.86 hectares.
The white tiger safari at Mukundpur was established in April 2016 to preserve the rare white tiger lineage that originated in the erstwhile Rewa princely state in Madhya Pradesh.
It is named after Maharaja Martand Singh Judeo, a member of the erstwhile Rewa royal family.
Under the master plan of Maharaja Martand Singh Judeo White Tiger Safari and Zoo, Mukundpur, the proposal for establishing a satellite facility as white tiger breeding Centre at Govindgarh under the safari area has been approved by the Central Zoo Authority, a senior forest officer who attended the review meeting said.
“We plan to do a scientific study of white tiger breeding at the proposed Centre”, the forest officer said.
White tiger is not a subspecies of tiger, but rather a Bengal or Siberian tiger with a rare colour mutation called leucism (a rare genetic anomaly).
White tiger has the typical black stripes of a tiger, but its coat is otherwise white or near white.
The first white tiger in India was spotted in Madhya Pradesh’s Vindhya region in undivided Satna district in 1915. It was then captured but died in 1920.
In 1951, a white tiger cub, later named Mohan, was captured in the region.
Maihar district has been carved out of Satna district recently.
