Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR)

• The Karnataka Forest Department recently directed the Bandipur Tiger Reserve’s eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) monitoring panel to act against illegal cottages built within the reserve’s ESZ.

ABOUT BANDIPUR TIGER RESERVE (BTR):

• It is situated in two contiguous districts (Mysore and Chamarajanagar) of Karnataka and located at the tri-junction area of the States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• Geographically, it is an “ecological confluence” of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
• It was established in 1931 as Venugopala Wildlife Park by the Maharaja of Mysore.
• It was then expanded with the name Bandipur Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in 1973.
• It is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• BTR is surrounded by Nagarahole Tiger Reserve(Tamil Nadu) in the North West (Kabini Reservoir separates the two).
  • Mudumalai Tiger Reserve(Tamil Nadu) in the South.
  • Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary(Kerala) in the South West.
• It is surrounded by River Kabini in its north and River Moyar in its south.
• Bandipur has a typical tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons.

Flora:

• It comprises diverse vegetation ranging from dry deciduous to tropical mixed deciduous.
• It includes rosewood, Indian kino tree, sandalwood, Indian laurel, clumping bamboo, giant clumping bamboo etc.

Fauna:

• It is a shelter for the largest population of wild Asian elephants in South Asia.
• It comprises other mammals such as Bengal tiger, gaur, sloth bear, golden jackal, dhole, four-horned antelope, etc.