Palamu Tiger Reserve, Location, Area, Flora, Latest News

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Palamau Tiger Reserve Latest News

The Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR), the last stronghold of Gaur (Bos gaurus) in Jharkhand, has registered an alarming decline in the bovid’s population.

It is located on the western side of the Latehar district on the Chhotanagpur plateau in Jharkhand.
The reserve forms a part of the Betla National Park.
It has a total area of 1,014 sq.km. with a core area of 414 sq.km. and a buffer area of 600 sq.km.
It is one of the first 9 tiger reserves created in the country at the inception of ‘Project Tiger’.
It is the first reserve in the world in which a tiger census was carried out as a pugmark count, as early as 1932 under the supervision of J.W. Nicholson.
The terrain is undulating with valleys, hills, and plains.
Three rivers, namely North Koyal, Auranga, and Burha flow through the valleys.
The area is drought-prone with Burha being the only perennial river.
The geological formation consists of gneiss and includes granite and limestone.
The area is very rich in minerals like Bauxite and Coal.
Flora: The vegetation in Palamau region comprises moist deciduous and dry deciduous forests to include Sal and bamboo as the major components.
Fauna: Some keystone and principal species found in the reserve include Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, Grey wolf, Wild dog, Gaur, Sloth bear and four horned antelope.