Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve

Prelims : Current events of national and international importance | Conservation

Why in News?

Telangana recently issued orders declaring the tiger corridor area connecting the Kawal Tiger Reserve in the State with the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra as ‘Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve’.

• Declared under - Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972.
• Connecting areas - The area is a critical part of the wildlife corridor connecting Kawal Tiger Reserve with
  • Tadoba, Kanhargaon, Tipeshwar, and Chaprala wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra and
  • Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh.
• Tiger Population - The presence of resident, breeding tigers in the area and several inter-State tiger dispersal events over the past decade indicate that it is a crucial link for maintaining tiger connectivity.
• Significance for wildlife - It is also home to leopard, wild dog, sloth bear, wolf, hyena, honey badger and jungle cat, and supports diverse prey such as gaur, sambar, nilgai, chital, four-horned antelope, muntjac, and Indian gazelle.
• More than 240 bird species have made it home, including the Malabar Pied Hornbills, and Long Billed Vulture for which it is the only nesting site.
• As per the Section 36(A) of the WPA, the State government may declare any areas owned by it, particularly in areas adjacent to the national parks and sanctuaries and those areas which link one protected area with another, as conservation reserve.
• Advantages - It offers significant advantages for wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection, especially regarding tiger connectivity in central India.
• It serves as a crucial corridor, facilitating the movement of tigers and other wildlife between reserves and sanctuaries across states.
• Enhanced genetic diversity, reduced inbreeding, and the long-term survival of tiger populations.

Reference

The Hindu | Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve