Source: This post on Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve has been created based on the article “56th Tiger Reserve of the country notified in Chhattisgarh” published in PIB on 19th November 2024.
Why in news?
Recently, Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve has been notified as the 56th Tiger Reserve of the country.
About Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve
1. Location: It is located in Chhattisgarh. It is nested in the Chota Nagpur plateau and partly in Baghelkhand plateau.
The reserve spreads across four districts in Chhattisgarh: Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Korea, Surajpur, and Balrampur.
2. Area: The Tiger Reserve spans a total area of 2,829.38 square kilometers, including a core or critical tiger habitat of 2,049.2 square kilometers that encompasses the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary.
3. It also has a buffer zone of 780.15 square kilometers, making it the third-largest tiger reserve in India.
4. Adjacent preserved areas: It also links with the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) in the west and the Palamau Tiger Reserve (Jharkhand) in the east.
5. Significance: It forms a contiguous landscape with the Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, creating a complex of nearly 4,500 sq. km.
6. Flora: It comprises of blend of sub-tropical and deciduous forests. The reserve boasts abundant flora, including sal, saja, dhavda, and kusum, representing a variety of vegetation types.
7. Fauna: The reserve is home to 753 documented species, including 365 invertebrates and 388 vertebrates. It shelters 230 bird species and 55 mammal species including several threatened species.
Its insect diversity, mainly from the class Insecta, contributes to a healthy ecosystem balance.
It hosts a diverse array of wildlife species, excluding tigers, such as elephants, sloth bears, vultures, peacocks, wolves, leopards, otters, chitals, jackals, nilgai, bison, hyenas, langurs, and cobras, among others.
Implications of the New Reserve
Ecological Impact: The expansive area of the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve will bolster tiger population growth while also safeguarding other fauna and flora. Its connectivity with adjacent reserves enhances gene flow and strengthens regional biodiversity.
Economic and Social Benefit: Tiger reserves significantly contribute to ecotourism, benefiting local communities through sustainable livelihoods. Conservation programs often involve local participation, ensuring harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Strengthening Global Commitments: This milestone reinforces India’s dedication to international conservation goals, such as the Global Tiger Initiative and the Global Tiger Recovery Program which aim to double tiger numbers worldwide.
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