Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

About Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve:

• It is located between the Vindhyan and Satpura ranges in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh.
• It was declared a national park in 1968 and then became Tiger Reserve in 1993.
• The habitat is characterized by valleys, hills, and plains, with the Bandhavgarh fort prominently seen as a major landmark.
  • The Bandhavgarh fort was said to be given by Hindu Lord Rama to his brother Lakshmana to keep a watch on Lanka. Hence the name Bandhavgarh (Sanskrit: Brother's Fort).
• Vegetation:
  • It consists of tropical moist, deciduous forests with sal, mixed forest, and grasslands.
  • Bamboo stretches on the lower slopes of the region.
• Flora: Some of the most famous floral species include Saj (Terminaliatomentosa), Dhaora (Anogeissuslatifolia), Tendu, Arjun (Terminaliaarjuna), Amla (Emblicaofficinalis), Palas (Buteamonosperma), etc.
• Fauna:
  • It is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in Indiaas well as in the world. 
  • Other important species include leopard, wild dog, wolf, jackal, chital, sambhar, barking deer, nilgai, chinkara, wild pig, chowsingha, etc.

Q1: What is a Tiger Reserve?

Tiger Reserve is a legally declared protected area dedicated to the conservation of striped big cats in its natural environment. A tiger reserve could be a national park or wildlife sanctuary. The Sariska Tiger Reserve, for example, is also a national park.

Source: Alarming Rise In Tiger Deaths in Madhya Pradesh Reserve: Report