Nagarahole Tiger Reserve:
The Centre has issued a draft eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) notification for Nagarahole Tiger Reserve for the second time, identifying a 573.95 sqkm area around the reserve forest where some activities will be regulated.
- Nagarahole Tiger Reserve is situated in the districts of Mysore and Kodagu in Karnataka.
- It is situated at the tri-junction area of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
- Geographically, it is an “ecological confluence” of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
- It is named after a small river, ‘Nagarahole’(literally a snake stream in Kannada), which meanders within the habitat before joining the river Kabini.
- It is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- It is flanked by the Bandipur Tiger Reserve on its southeastern side and the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala on the
- It is surrounded by the River Kabini in its north and River Moyar in its south.
- The dry eastern limits of the reserve have dry deciduous forests.
- Towards the west, with the increase in rainfall, the vegetation changes to tropical moist and semi-evergreen forests.
- It includes rosewood, Indian kino tree, sandalwood, Indian laurel, clumping bamboo, giant clumping bamboo, etc.
- It comprises mammals such as Bengal tiger, gaur, sloth bear, golden jackal, dhole, four-horned antelope, etc
