Environment and Ecology — Tiger Reserves in India
1. Project Tiger
Context: Project Tiger was launched by the Government of India in the year 1973 to save the endangered species of tiger in the country. 50 years of Project Tiger was celebrated at Mysuru.
- Minimum tiger population: 3,167
- Upper limit: 3,925
- Average number: 3,682 tigers
- Annual growth rate: 6.1% per annum
State-wise Tiger Population
- Madhya Pradesh: 785 — Largest
- Karnataka: 563
- Uttarakhand: 560
- Maharashtra: 444
Tiger Abundance in Tiger Reserves
- Corbett: 260 — Highest
- Bandipur: 150
- Nagarahole: 141
Key Points:
- India currently harbors almost 75% of the world's wild tiger population.
- National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) constituted under section 38 L (1) of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- NTCA consists of the Minister in charge of MoEF (as Chairperson), Minister of State, MoEF (as Vice-Chairperson), three MPs, Secretary, MoEF and other members.
2. Tamil Nadu Tiger Reserves
Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve
- River: Vaigai
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
- River: Moyar
- Located in the Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu tri-junction on the northeastern and northwestern slopes of the Nilgiris, descending to the Mysore plateau.
Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve
- River: Bhavani
- At the intersection of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
- Part of the Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats Elephant Reserve.
- Connected genetically via SMTR to Billigiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, Sigur Plateau, Mudumalai National Park, and Bandipur National Park.
Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
- River: Thamirabarani
- Agasthyamalai (1681m) lies inside the Reserve's core zone — South India's third tallest peak.
Anamalai Tiger Reserve
- River: Thamirabarani
- Bounded on the east by Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, on the south by Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, and on the west by Eravikulam National Park.
- Surrounded by Kerala's protected forests: Nemmara, Vazhachal, Malayattur, and Marayur.
- UNESCO has designated the Anamalai Tiger Reserve's Kariyan shola, Grass hills, and Manjampatti as world historical sites.
Key Points:
- Kalakad Mundanthurai TR — Agasthyamalai (3rd tallest peak in South India)
- Anamalai TR — UNESCO world historical sites; bounded by Parambikulam TR
- Satyamangalam TR — Intersection of Western & Eastern Ghats
3. Karnataka Tiger Reserves
Nagarahole Tiger Reserve
- River: Nagarahole (a tributary of Kabini)
Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve (Kali Tiger Reserve)
- River: Kali
- Renamed Kali Tiger Reserve in 2015.
Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserve
- Derives its name from 'BILIGIRI' — the white rocky cliff with a temple of Lord 'VISHNU' locally known as 'Rangaswamy.'
- Located in the middle of the bridge between the Western and Eastern Ghats.
Bhadra Tiger Reserve
- River: Bhadra
- Shaped like a saucer with mostly undulating terrain with valleys and steep hillocks.
Bandipur Tiger Reserve
- First official tiger reserve to finish a successful village relocation programme.
- One of the first nine Tiger Reserves established at the launch of Project Tiger in 1973.
- Contiguous with Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu) and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala).
- Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve since 1986.
- Bhakta Markandya temple of Khandwa and Bhavani Shankar temple of Hebbe is situated here.
Key Points:
- Bandipur TR — First 9 reserves (1973); part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
- Kali TR — Formerly Dandeli-Anshi; renamed in 2015
- Biligiri Ranganatha — Bridge between Western & Eastern Ghats
4. Kerala Tiger Reserves
Parambikulam Tiger Reserve
- Rivers: Parambikulam, Sholayar, Thekkady
- One of the world's biodiversity hot spots.
Periyar Tiger Reserve
- Rivers: Periyar, Pamba
- Mangaladevi - Kannagi Temple is located on the Reserve's northern edge.
- Every year, 5 million pilgrims visit the Sabarimala Ayyaappan Temple at Periyar Tiger Reserve for sixty days.
5. Maharashtra Tiger Reserves
Sahyadri Tiger Reserve
- River: Warna
- First tiger reserve in western Maharashtra and the fourth in Maharashtra state.
- Encompasses two protected areas: Koyana sanctuary and Chandoli national park.
- Links to the Kanha, Pench, and Tadoba Tiger Reserves.
- Highest peak: 'Zenda Pahad' (702 metres above sea level).
Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve
- River: Bor
- Bor Tiger Reserve is the smallest tiger reserve in India by area.
Key Point: Bor Tiger Reserve is the smallest tiger reserve in India by area.
6. Madhya Pradesh Tiger Reserves
Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
- Rivers: Charanganga, Umra
- "Sheshshaiya" — the statue of Lord Vishnu in reclining pose, is the major attraction.
Panna Tiger Reserve
- River: Ken
- Dotted with ancient rock paintings, believed to be around two thousand years old.
- Situated in the Maikal hills of Satpura Range and lies in the Deccan peninsula-Central Highland zone.
- Distinguished itself in saving the endangered hard ground Barasingha from extinction and supporting the last state population of this deer species.
7. Rajasthan Tiger Reserves
Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve
- River: Banas
- Located at the confluence (great boundary fault) of the Aravalis and Vindhyan ranges.
- Flanked to the north by the Banas River and to the east by the Chambal River.
- Part of the central Indian landscape's western block.
- Nekkanth and Garh Rajar from the ninth and tenth centuries are located here.
8. Summary: Tiger Reserves at a Glance
| State | Tiger Reserve | River | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | Srivilliputhur-Megamalai | Vaigai | — |
| Tamil Nadu | Mudumalai TR | Moyar | Karnataka-Kerala-TN tri-junction |
| Tamil Nadu | Satyamangalam TR | Bhavani | Western & Eastern Ghats intersection |
| Tamil Nadu | Kalakad Mundanthurai | Thamirabarani | Agasthyamalai (3rd tallest in South India) |
| Karnataka | Bandipur TR | — | First 9 reserves (1973); Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve |
| Karnataka | Kali Tiger Reserve | Kali | Formerly Dandeli-Anshi; renamed 2015 |
| Karnataka | Biligiri Ranganatha | — | Bridge between Western & Eastern Ghats |
| Kerala | Parambikulam TR | Parambikulam, Sholayar | Biodiversity hotspot |
| Kerala | Periyar TR | Periyar, Pamba | Sabarimala Temple; 5M pilgrims |
| Maharashtra | Sahyadri TR | Warna | First in western Maharashtra; Zenda Pahad |
| Maharashtra | Bor TR | Bor | Smallest tiger reserve in India |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bandhavgarh TR | Charanganga, Umra | Sheshshaiya (Lord Vishnu reclining) |
| Madhya Pradesh | Panna TR | Ken | Hard ground Barasingha; ancient rock paintings |
| Rajasthan | Ranthambhore TR | Banas | Aravalis & Vindhyan confluence |
Key Takeaways for UPSC
- Project Tiger (1973): 3,682 tigers (avg); 6.1% growth rate; India has 75% of world's wild tigers
- Largest Tiger Population: Madhya Pradesh (785), Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560)
- Highest Tiger Abundance: Corbett (260), Bandipur (150), Nagarahole (141)
- NTCA: Constituted under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; headed by MoEF Minister
- Bor Tiger Reserve: Smallest tiger reserve in India
- Bandipur: First 9 reserves (1973); part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; first successful village relocation
- Satyamangalam: Intersection of Western & Eastern Ghats
- Kalakad Mundanthurai: Agasthyamalai (3rd tallest peak in South India)
- Anamalai: UNESCO world historical sites; bounded by Parambikulam TR
- Kali TR: Formerly Dandeli-Anshi; renamed 2015
- Panna TR: Hard ground Barasingha; ancient rock paintings
High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (Tiger Reserves in India)
Q1. Project Tiger was launched in which year?
Correct Answer: C. Project Tiger was launched by the Government of India in the year 1973 to save the endangered species of tiger in the country.
Q2. Which state has the largest tiger population in India?
Correct Answer: B. Madhya Pradesh has the largest tiger population of 785, followed by Karnataka (563) and Uttarakhand (560).
Q3. Which tiger reserve has the highest tiger abundance?
Correct Answer: B. The tiger abundance within the Tiger Reserve is highest in Corbett (260), followed by Bandipur (150) and Nagarahole (141).
Q4. NTCA was constituted under which Act?
Correct Answer: B. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has been constituted under section 38 L (1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Q5. Which tiger reserve is known as the smallest tiger reserve in India by area?
Correct Answer: B. Bor Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra is the smallest tiger reserve in India by area.
Q6. Which tiger reserve was renamed Kali Tiger Reserve in 2015?
Correct Answer: C. Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve was renamed Kali Tiger Reserve in 2015. The river Kali flows through this reserve.
Q7. Which tiger reserve is located at the intersection of the Western and Eastern Ghats?
Correct Answer: B. Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu is at the intersection of the Western and Eastern Ghats. It is part of the Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats Elephant Reserve.
Q8. Which tiger reserve is known for saving the hard ground Barasingha from extinction?
Correct Answer: B. Panna Tiger Reserve has distinguished itself in saving the endangered hard ground Barasingha from extinction and supporting the last state population of this deer species.
Q9. Which tiger reserve has the Agasthyamalai peak (South India's third tallest peak) within its core zone?
Correct Answer: B. Agasthyamalai (1681m) lies inside the core zone of Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and is South India's third tallest peak.
Q10. India harbors what percentage of the world's wild tiger population?
Correct Answer: C. India currently harbors almost 75% of the world's wild tiger population.