Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Conservation
Why in News?
A team of forest department personnel rescued a 12-year-old female tigress and 5 cubs from the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Mysuru recently.
Bandipur Tiger Reserve is located in the Chamarajanagar and Mysore districts of Southern Karnataka.
Royal Origin - Established in 1931 by the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore as the Venugopala Wildlife Park.
Location -It sits at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
It serves as a critical ecological corridor where the Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats.
Bordered by
Nagarahole Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) to the Northwest (separated by the Kabini Reservoir).
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu) to the South.
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) to the Southwest.
Climate- It has a typical tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.
Forest Type -Scrub-Type Forest, Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous-Type Forest and Southern Tropical Moist Deciduous-Type Forests.
Rivers – It is bound by the Kabini River in the north and the Moyar River in the south.
The Nugu River flows directly through the heart of the reserve.
Highest Peak - Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta, a hill located in the park.
Flora - High concentration of valuable timber, including teak (Tectona grandis), rosewood, and sandalwood (Santalum album), alongside giant clumping bamboo.
Fauna - Bengal Tiger (high-density source population), Leopard (holds the 2nd largest population in India after Panna), and Sloth Bear.
Project Tiger Genesis- In 1973, it was selected as one of the first 9 tiger reserves in India launched under the flagship 'Project Tiger' initiative.
UNESCO Site- It is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
