Palamu Tiger Reserve : Bison Report
The Jharkhand Forest department has initiated a study to revive the dwindling population of Bison, popularly known as Gaur, at Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR).
- Palamu Tiger Reserve is located on the western side of the Latehar district on the Chhotanagpur plateau in Jharkhand.
- The reserve forms part of the Betla National Park.
- It is one of the first nine tiger reserves created in the country at the inception of ‘Project Tiger’.
- It is the first reserve in the world in which a tiger census was carried out as a pugmark count as early as 1932 under the supervision of J.W. Nicholson.
- It has a total area of 1,014 sq. km. with a core area of 414 sq. km. and a buffer area of 600 sq. km.
- The terrain is undulating, with valleys, hills, and plains.
- Three rivers, namely North Koyal, Auranga, and Burha, flow through the valleys of the Palamau Tiger Reserve.
- The area is drought-prone with Burha being the only perennial river.
- The geological formation consists of gneiss and includes granite and limestone.
- The reserve is very rich in minerals like Bauxite and Coal.
