India's 51st Tiger Reserve To Come Up In Meghamalai

Table of Contents

Q) Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?

Corbett
Ranthambore
Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam
Sunderbans

On 8^th February, 2021, Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, announced the notification of a new Tiger Reserve.
It will be known as the Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve.
It is the 51^st Tiger Reserve of India.
Fifth Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu.

It is formed in the area of two wildlife sanctuaries:

The Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary
Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Area of the new tiger reserve = 1016.57 sq km
Core area = 641.86 sq km
Buffer area – 374.70 sq km
Can provide habitat to tigers dispersing from neighbouring Periyar Tiger Reserve & Anamalai Tiger Reserve.

Need for the new Tiger Reserve

Environmental activists have been seeking a tiger reserve linking the two sanctuaries of Srivilliputhur and Megamalai.
These two sanctuaries adjoin the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala.
Naturalists then sought to connect it with the Tirunelveli Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve to make it a contiguous corridor where the big cats can thrive.

Forest officials have noticed 14 tigers regularly in both the wildlife sanctuaries.
According to a report by the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), direct and indirect evidence of tigers were mostly restricted to the western plateau of the landscape.
The report had also recommended the expansion of Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.

Other Benefits

The new tiger reserve will help in the rejuvenation of the Vaigai river by protecting the river’s origins in these forests.
The area has experienced severe interruption of local residents for cattle grazing.
This has increased the chance of spreading diseases from cattle to wild ungulates, thereby threatening the prey base of tigers.

List of Tiger Reserves:

1.Bandipur (1973-74)
2.Corbett (1973-74)
3.Kanha (1973-74)
4.Manas (1973-74)
5.Melghat (1973-74)
6.Palamau (1973-74)
7.Ranthambore (1973-74)
8.Similipal (1973-74)
9.Sunderbans (1973-74)
10.Periyar (1978-79)
11.Sariska (1978-79)
12.Buxa (1982)
13.Indravati (1982)
14.Namdapha (1982-83)
15.Dudhwa (1987-88)
16.Kalakad-Mundanthurai (1988-89)
17.Valmiki (1989)
18.Pench
19.Tadoba-Andhari (1993-94)
20.Bandhavgarh (1993-94)
21.Panna (1994)
22.Dampa (1994-95)
23.Bhadra (1998-99)
24.Pench (1998-99)
25.Pakke (1999-2000)
26.Nameri (1999-2000)
27.Satpura (1999-2000)
28.Anamalai (2008-09)
29.Udanti-Sitanadi (2008-09)
30.Satkosia (2008-09)
31.Kaziranga (2008-09)
32.Achanakmar (2008-09)
33.Dandeli-Anshi (Kali) (2008-09)
34.Sanjay-Dubri (2008-09)
35.Mudumalai (2008)
36.Nagarahole (2008-09)
37.Parambikulam (2008-09)
38.Sahyadri (2009-10)
39.Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (2010-11)
40.Kawal (2012-13)
41.Sathyamangalam (2013-14)
42.Mukandra Hills (2013-14)
43.Nawegaon-Nagzira (2013-14)
44.Nagarjunsagar Srisailam (1982-83)
45.Amrabad (2014)
46.Pilibhit (2014)
47.Bor (2015)
48.Rajaji (2015)
49.Orang (2016)
50.Kamlang (2016)

Largest Tiger Reserve in India- Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana)
Smallest Tiger Reserve in India- Bor Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra).