Sahyadri Tiger Reserve

News: The Union Environment Ministry approved capturing eight tigers from Tadoba–Andhari and Pench for translocation to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, to revive the big cat population in the northern Western Ghats.

About Sahyadri Tiger Reserve

• Location: The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is located in the Sahyadri Ranges of Western Ghats in Maharashtra along the common boundary with Karnataka and Goa.
  • The reserve straddles Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, and Ratnagiri districts.
• It is the first Tiger Reserve of Western Maharashtra and the fourth Tiger Reserve of the State.
• Major river: The reserve forms the catchment of the Koyna and Warna rivers, which are crucial for neighbouring districts.
• Protected Areas: It comprises Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) and Chandoli National Park (CNP).
• Terrain: The habitat of reserve is composed of woodlands, grasslands and plateau, the latter locally referred to as “Sadaa”, which are lateritic in nature with considerable habitat value.
  • The slopes in the Chandoli National Park habitat are less steep, with small water bodies and a number of ecotone areas.
• Vegetation: It include Western (Montane) Subtropical Hill Forests on higher ridges, West Coast Semi-evergreen Forests in valleys, and Southern Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests on the lower slopes..
• Flora: The flora includes medicinal and fruit-bearing trees such as Anjani (Memecylon umbellatum), Jambhul (Syzygium cumini), and Pisa (Actinodaphaone Angustifolia)..
• Fauna: Tiger, wild dog, and leopard, gaur and sambar, along with four-horned antelope, mouse deer, and giant squirrel; birds including hornbills and vultures; and reptiles like crocodiles and diverse snakes.