In January 2025, New Delhi(Delhi) based the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEFCC), has approved the proposal to set up India’s 1st white tiger breeding centre in Govindgarh area of Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh (MP).
- The approval follows the recommendations made by the expert committee of CZA during its 114th meeting held in December, 2024 and subsequently by the technical committee during its 112th meeting held in December, 2024.
- This new white tiger breeding facility will be developed as part of the revised Master (Layout) Plan of Maharaja Martand Singh Judeo White Tiger Safari and Zoo, Mukundpur, Satna (MP).
Note: In 2011, the Government of India (GoI) gave its in-principle approval to establish a breeding centre for the white tigers in MP as part of conservation efforts.
Background:
i.The 1st white tiger was spotted in Vindhya region of MP in 1915. But, later it died in 1920.
ii.In 1951, Maharaja Martand Singh, former ruler of Rewa found a white tiger in Govindgarh jungle and named it ‘Mohan’. He initiated the conservation efforts that led to protection and breeding of white tigers in the area.
About White Tiger:
i.White tiger is not a separate sub-specie of tiger. It is a color variant of the Bengal Tiger (scientific name: Panthera tigris tigris), the Siberian tiger or Amur tiger(Scientific name: Panthera tigris altaica), or a hybrid between the two subspecies of tiger.
ii.It is characterized by white fur, dark brown or black stripes and blue eyes.
iii.The white color of the fur is due to the genetic mutation called ‘leucism’.
Points to Note:
i.According to the tiger census of 2022, MP has the highest number of Tigers followed by Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra respectively.
ii.In 2016, the world’s first white tiger safari was established at Mukundpur in Satna district in MP in 2016.
About Central Zoo Authority (CZA):
It is a statutory body established under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It works under the administrative control of MoEFCC. The Authority comprises a chairman, 10 members and a member secretary.
- The primary objective of CZA is to strengthen the national efforts in conservation of the rich biodiversity of the country, particularly the fauna as per the National Zoo Policy, 1998.
Chairman- Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, MoEFCC
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 1992
About Madhya Pradesh (MP):
Chief Minister (CM)- Mohan Yadav
Governor- Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel
Capital- Bhopal
National Parks (NPs)- Kanha NP; Pench NP; Panna NP
