New Delhi, October 19: The big cat of the jungle has got a bit more space to roam freely with as many as seven states identifying an additional 8,927 square km of forest patch as buffer zones around their tiger reserves.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in a recent meeting ratified the proposals received from the states.
West Bengal has identified 885 sq km as buffer area around Sundarbans sanctuary while in Orissa Achankmar gets an additional buffer area of 287.822 sq km, Indravati (1540.70 sq km), Udanti-Sitanadi (991.45 sq km).
In Assam, Kaziranga gets 548 sq km, Manas 2310.88 sq km and Nameri 144 sq km and in Karnataka, Bandipur will have additional buffer zone of 118.27 sq km. In Uttarakhand, the Corbett National Park will have 466.32 sq km more area in the buffer zone.
Uttar Pradesh has proposed ratification of 80.
–Agencies