BANDIPUR
TIGER RESERVE - ENVIRONMENT
News:
Online campaign against
plans to relax night traffic ban in reserve stretch
What's
in the news?
●
The conflicting interests of Karnataka,
Kerala and Tamil Nadu, coupled with environmental concerns, set the stage for a
heated debate on the future of Bandipur Tiger Reserve and its delicate
ecosystem.
●
In a recent visit to the Bandipur Tiger
Reserve, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre hinted at a potential relaxation of the
night traffic ban on the Bandipur Tiger Reserve stretch, connecting Karnataka
with Kerala, as per the Kerala government’s plea.
BANDIPUR
TIGER RESERVE (BTR):
●
It is situated in two contiguous districts
(Mysore and Chamarajanagar) of Karnataka and located at the tri-junction area of the States of
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
●
Geographically, it is an “ecological confluence” of the Western and
Eastern Ghats.
Backdrop:
●
It was once a hunting ground for the
rulers of the neighbouring kingdom of Mysore.
●
It was established in the year 1931 as
Venugopala Wildlife Park by the Maharaja of Mysore.
●
It was then expanded with the name
Bandipur Tiger Reserve under Project
Tiger in 1973.
●
It is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is
recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Surrounded
by:
●
NAGARAHOLE
Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu) in the North West (Kabini Reservoir separates the
two).
●
MUDUMALAI
Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu) in the South.
●
Wayanad
Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the South West.
Rivers:
●
It is surrounded by River Kabini in its north and River Moyar in its south.
Climate:
●
BANDIPUR has a typical tropical climate
with distinct wet and dry seasons.
Flora:
●
It comprises diverse vegetation of dry
deciduous to tropical mixed deciduous.
●
It includes rosewood, Indian kino tree,
sandalwood, Indian laurel, clumping bamboo and giant clumping bamboo etc.
Fauna:
●
It is a shelter for the largest population
of wild Asian Elephants in South
Asia.
●
It comprises other mammals such as Bengal Tiger, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Golden
Jackal, Dhole and four-horned Antelope etc.