Q. Consider the following statements with respect to the Melghat Tiger Reserve:
1.The forest is tropical dry deciduous in nature, dominated by teak.
2.The Tapti River and the Gawilgadh ridge of the Satpura Range form the boundaries of the reserve.
3.It is situated in Gavilgarh Hill in Maharashtra.
4.The Kota tribes are the largest tribal community in Melghat.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation –
Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct. Melghat Tiger Reserve was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1967 and was declared a tiger reserve in 1974. The name ‘Melghat’ means the confluence of various ‘ghats’ or valleys. It is located on the southern offshoot of the Satpura Hill Range in Central India, called Gavilgarh Hill in Maharashtra. The forest is tropical dry deciduous in nature, dominated by teak. The reserve is a catchment area for five major rivers: the Khandu, Khapra, Sipna, Gadga, and Dolar. These are tributaries of the river Tapti. The Tapti River and the Gawilgadh ridge of the Satpura Range form the boundaries of the reserve. It was the first tiger reserve in Maharashtra.
Statement 4 is incorrect. The Korkus are the largest tribal community in Melghat. Other communities include the Gawli community, the Gond tribe etc.
Source: Forum IAS
