Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve editorial
- Location: Situated in Erode district, Tamil Nadu, along the Eastern Ghats, with portions extending into the Western Ghats landscape.
- Declared Tiger Reserve: 2013 (under Project Tiger).
- Established as Wildlife Sanctuary: 2008.
- Nodal Authority: National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
- Significance: Acts as an important ecological corridor connecting the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, facilitating wildlife movement.
- Connectivity: Provides connectivity between Nilgiri Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu), Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka), Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu), Biligiri Ranganatha Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) and Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka).
- River: The Bhavani River, a tributary of the Cauvery, flows through the reserve.
- Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous, moist deciduous, thorn forests and scrub forests.
Important Fauna:
- Bengal Tiger
- Asian Elephant
- Leopard
- Dhole (Indian Wild Dog)
- Sloth Bear
- Gaur
- Four-horned Antelope (Chousingha)
- Striped Hyena
- Conservation Importance: One of the highest tiger populations in Tamil Nadu and a key elephant habitat in southern India.
- Historical Significance: The forests were once known as the stronghold of the sandalwood smuggler Veerappan.
UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Q. With reference to Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, consider the following statements:
- It is located in Tamil Nadu and serves as an important wildlife corridor connecting the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
- The Bhavani River, a tributary of the Cauvery, flows through the reserve.
- It was the first Tiger Reserve to be declared in Tamil Nadu under Project Tiger.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (A) 1 and 2 only
- (B) 2 and 3 only
- (C) 1 and 3 only
- (D) 1, 2 and 3
