Agasthyamalai Elephant Reserve : India’s 31 Elephant Reserve
The central government has notified Agasthyamalai Elephant Reserve (Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli, TN) as India’s 31 elephant reserve
- This will be the 5th elephant reserve in the state.
- The forest department may be eligible for additional financing through the centrally sponsored Project Elephant after notifying the Agasthiyarmalai Elephant Reserve.
- It will help connect the populations to other areas in the Srivilliputhur Meghamalai tiger reserve and with the Periyar landscapes.
About Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR):
- ABR is situated at the southern-most end of the Western Ghats and spread over two southern states Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- It is named after the Agastya Mala peak that rises up to almost 1868 metres above sea level, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- In March 2016, it was included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO.
- It covers Peppara and Shendurney wildlife sanctuaries and parts of the Neyyar sanctuary in Kerala and the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu.
- It is home to the Kanikaran tribe, one of the oldest surviving ancient tribes in the world.
