Indravati Tiger Reserve to reopen after 40 years

The Indravati Tiger Reserve (ITR) in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh is scheduled to reopen to tourists on November 1 after remaining largely inaccessible for approximately four decades. The closure was primarily due to the threat of left-wing extremism (LWE), which prevented forest department staff from accessing roughly 70 percent of the reserve's area, hindering both protection activities and field operations.

As Maoist activity has declined following security operations and development efforts, officials are preparing for the reopening by procuring safari vehicles and planning tourist routes. The reserve, which is one of the largest in central India, holds significant ecological importance. It is home to a herd of 14–17 wild buffaloes—a species on the verge of extinction and the state animal of Chhattisgarh—as well as an estimated six tigers.

Other wildlife noted in the reserve includes leopards, sloth bears, gaur, vultures, and a recently recorded sighting of smooth-coated otters. The forest department is currently conducting a tiger census in the area, which had previously been unable to perform such exercises due to security concerns.