Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve | 15 Nov 2019

Why in News

• According to the fourth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation (AITE), there has been an increase in the number of tigers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The number of tigers in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in Andhra Pradesh has gone up, reversing the steady decline in their number over a period.
  
  • The Tiger Conservation Foundation (TCF) has drawn up an action plan to double its efforts to facilitate the proliferation of the big cats in the largest tiger reserve in the country.
• NSTR is the largest tiger reserve in India.
• Historical Background: It was notified in the year of 1978 and came under the protection of Project Tiger in 1983. In 1992, it was retitled as Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Geographical Aspects:
  
  • The Tiger reserve is spread over 5 districts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The area consists mostly of the Nallamala Hills.
  • The multipurpose reservoirs- Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar are located in the reserve.
  • The Krishna river cuts the basin of this reserve.
• Ecological Diversity:
  
  • Fauna: It is home to a vast variety of wild animals. In addition to the Bengal Tiger, which is the apex predator, many other species like leopard, rusty-spotted cat, pangolin, Mugger Crocodiles, Indian Rock Python, and innumerable varieties of birds are found here.
  • Flora: Variety of forests ranging from southern tropical dry mixed deciduous forest till southern thorn forest. A wide variety of shrubs and bamboo thickets also grow in this area.

Source: TH