Bandipur Tiger Reserve : 50 Years As a Project Tiger Reserve
Bandipur Tiger Reserve recently completed 50 years as a Project Tiger Reserve.
- Bandipur Tiger Reserve was established in the 1930s as a wildlife sanctuary, which became a tiger reserve in 1973 under Project tiger.
- 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.
- Bandipur Tiger Reserve 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.
- This area has the River Kabini in its north and River Moyar in its south.
- It comprises diverse vegetation of dry deciduous to tropical mixed deciduous. It includes rosewood, Indian kino tree, sandalwood, Indian laurel, clumping bamboo and giant clumping bamboo etc.
- 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 and four-horned antelope etc.