Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

• Tamil Nadu Forest department recently commenced a 3-day long elephant census at Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, after a gap of 6 years.
• The enumeration exercise will be conducted in all 10 forest ranges of Sathyamangalam, Vilamundy, Bhavanisagar, Hassanure, Geermalam, Thalavadi, Gettavadi, Jeerahalli, Kadambur and Thooka Naicken Palayam.

ABOUT SATHYAMANGALAM TIGER RESERVE

• It is located in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu.
• It was declared a tiger reserve in 2013 and covers an area of 1,411 square km.
• The reserve is situated at the confluence of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, making it a unique ecological zone.
• Its area is contiguous with the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) and BR Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka).
• Together, these reserves — forming the Nilgiris biosphere landscape — have the biggest tiger population in the world, at over 280 tigers.
• The region is also a part of Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats Elephant Reserve.
• The Sathyamangalam forest is crisscrossed by several streams and rivers, including the Moyar River (an important tributary of the Cauvery River).
• Flora- It consists of southern tropical dry thorn forests, mixed deciduous forests, semi-evergreen forests, and Riparian forests.
  • Trees like Neem, Tamarind, Sandalwood, Randi dumetorum, Zizyphus are found.
• Fauna- Elephant, Tiger, Panther, Sloth bear, Gaur, Black Buck, Spotted deer, Wild boar, Black napped hare, Common langur, Nilgiri langur, Striped neck mongoose and Bonnet macaque.