Commemorative Stamps on Tadoba Andhari National Park

Commemorative Stamps on Tadoba Andhari National Park released on 29th July 2016.

The tiger is the largest of the world’s big cats and this magnificent creature, with its distinctive orange and black stripes and beautifully marked face, has a day that is dedicated to it. This was first celebrated in 2010 and was founded at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit. This was done because at that moment wild tigers were too close to extinction. International Tiger Day is held annually on 29th July to give worldwide attention to the reservation of tigers. It is both an awareness day as a celebration. Tigers are on the brink of extinction. Many factors have caused their numbers to fall, including habitat loss, climate change, hunting and poaching etc. The goal of the day is to promote a global system for protecting the natural habitats of tigers and to raise public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues.

Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra is notable as Maharashtra's oldest and largest national park and it is one of India's 47 project tiger reserves existing in India. It lies in the confines of Chimur Hills and the latter comprises of Kolsa and Mohurli Ranges. The total area under the Project Tiger is 1727.6 sq.km with core area being 625. 82 sq.km and the rest 1101.78 sq.km constitute the buffer zone. Earlier, the kings of Gond ruled this forest in the vicinage of the Chimur hills. During 1935, hunting was totally restricted, but later in the year 1955; the area of 116.54 sq. km (45.00 sq mi) was acknowledged as The National Park. Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary was made on the next forests in 1986 and later in the year 1995, the park & the sanctuary were combined together to form the present India’s 41 “Project Tiger”-Tiger Reserves. The name 'Tadoba' is the name of the God "Tadoba" or "Taru", praised by the tribal people who live in the dense forests of the Tadoba and Andhari region, while the Andhari River that meanders through the forest. gives the 'Andhari' name. Tadoba is one of the finest tiger reserve in Maharashtra and has a reputation all over the World. It is one of the most famous tiger safari destinations in India. There are more than 80 tigers (as of Dec 2015) in the reserve.

On the occasion of International Tiger Day, a set of two commemorative Stamps on Tadoba Andhari National Park was released by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Surface Transport and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari at Nagpur on 29th July 2016. Set of two stamps is in denomination of Rs. 5 and Rs 25. A miniature sheet was also released on the occasion. 

Stamp design of Rs.25 stamp is based on the photograph captured by Amol Bais, a wildlife photographer and headmaster of a school for tribal students at Durgapur, located on the periphery of the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. He had clicked this photograph, of a cub embracing its mother in the Pandharpauni area of the Tadoba Tiger Reserve on 1st January, 2016.


Source:Indian philatelist