Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve: Maharashtra

• 12 Apr 2021

Why in News

Three labourers were killed and two others injured during an operation to douse a forest fire at Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) in Maharashtra.

Key Points

• Location:
  
  • It is situated in Gondia and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra.
    
    • Gondia District shares common boundaries with the state of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in the north and eastern side respectively.
  • Strategically, the Tiger Reserve is located in the heart of central Indian Tiger landscape which contributes almost one sixth of the total tiger population of the country.
• Formation:
  
  • It was notified as the 46^th Tiger Reserve of India in December 2013.
  • NNTR comprised of the notified area of Nawegaon National Park, Nawegaon Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Koka Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Connectivity:
  
  • NNTR has connectivity with the major tiger reserves in Central India like,
    
    • Kanha and Pench tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh,
    • Tadoba-Andhari Tiger reserve in Maharashtra,
    • Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh,
    • Indirectly with the Kawal and Nagarjuna Sagar in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and, Achanakmar Tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh.
  • It is also connected to important tiger bearing areas like Umred-Karhandla sanctuary and Brahampuri Division (Maharashtra).
• Flora:
  
  • The major forest type is "Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest".
    
    • Few thorny plants are also found.
    • Bamboo occurs in abundance.
• Fauna:
  
  • Large Carnivores such as leopards and smaller carnivores like wild dogs, wolf jackals, jungle cats and also the good population of sloth bears are seen.
  • The important herbivore includes Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, Chousingha, Barking deer, Wild pig and Indian gaur. Mouse deer has also been recorded from the area.
  • More than 300 species of birds have been reported from the area.
• Other Protected Areas in Maharashtra:
  
  • Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.
  • Melghat Tiger reserve.
  • Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary.
  • Karnala Bird Sanctuary.
  • Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
  • Pench National Park.

Source: IE