About Nilgiris elephant corridor: It is situated in the ecologically fragile Sigur plateau. The plateau connects the Western and the Eastern Ghats. Apart from that, the plateau also sustains elephant populations and their genetic diversity.
Source: Vikaspedia
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve: The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is the largest protected forest area in India.
Location: The Biosphere Reserve spreads across three states. Namely, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.
Flora: It hosts forest systems, ranging from seasonal rain forests in the low hills, tropical montane Shola forests and grasslands in the higher reaches, and moist deciduous to scrub through dry-deciduous towards the plains in the Eastern end.
Endemic Flora: Vanda, Liparis, Bulbophyllum, Spiranthes, Thrixspermum
Fauna: Important faunal elements include Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Lion tail macaque, Cheethal, Sambar, Wild Boar, Barking deer, Nilgiri Tahr, etc.
Hills and Wildlife Sanctuaries:
- The reserve includes the Aralam, Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Nagarhole, Bandipur, and Silent Valley national parks. Similarly, the reserve also includes the Wayanad, Karimpuzha, and Sathyamangam wildlife sanctuaries.
- It has the Nilgiri Hills on its southwestern side and the Moyar River Valley on its north-eastern side. The elephants cross the plateau in search of food and water.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Nilgiri Sub-Cluster is a part of the Western Ghats which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2012.
Significance: About 80% of flowering plants reported from the Western Ghats occur in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
