About Mudumalai Tiger Reserve

About Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: 

• Location: It is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu state at the tri-junction of three states, viz, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• The name Mudumalai means the ancient hill range because it is as old as 65 million years when the Western Ghats were formed.
• It has a common boundary with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) on the West, and Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Karnataka) on the North.
• The Theppakadu elephant camp is a popular tourist attraction.
• Vegetation: A variety of habitats ranging from tropical evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, moist teak forest, dry teak forest, secondary grasslands and swamps are found here.
• Flora: The Reserve has tall grasses, commonly referred to as “Elephant Grass”, Bamboo of the giant variety, valuable timber species like Teak, Rosewood, etc.
• Fauna: Elephants, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Porcupine etc. 

Highlights of the Survey

• Two critically endangered species of amphibians, Micrixalus spelunca, commonly known as the cave dancing frog, and Nyctibatrachus indraneili, the Indraneil’s Night Frog were found here.
• Other Endangered species of amphibians like the endemic Star-eyed Bush Frog, Nilgiri Bush Frog and Nilgiris wart frog were also found.

Q1: What is the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)?

It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It was established in 2006 under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

Source: Rare and endangered herpetofauna recorded in survey at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve