Kawal Tiger Reserve (UPSC)

About Kawal Tiger Reserve:

• It is located in the north-eastern part of Telangana State along the banks of the river Godavari, forming part of the Deccan Peninsula-central highlands.
• Spanning over 2015 sq. km, the reserve is nestled in the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges.
• The government of India declared Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary a Tiger Reserve in 2012.
• It has a diverse habitat comprising dense forests, grasslands, open areas, rivers, streams, and water bodies.
• Rivers: The reserve is the catchment for the rivers Godavari and Kadam, which flow towards the south of the sanctuary.
• Geographically, the reserve is situated in the southern-most tip of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, having linkages with the Tadoba-Andhari (Maharashtra) and Indravati (Chhattisgarh)tiger reserves.
• Vegetation: Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest.
• Flora: Teak is found extensively, along with Bamboo.
• Fauna:
  • It is home to a diverse range of animals, including Cheetal, Sambar, Barking Deer, Nilgai, Sloth Bear, Indian Bison, Panther, and Tiger.
  • Reptiles like Crocodile, Python, Monitor Lizard, Star Tortoise, and Cobra can also be found within its boundaries. 

Q1: What is the Deccan Plateau?

The Deccan Plateau is a large plateau that occupies major parts of western and southern India. The plateau covers an area of 4,22,000 sq. km, which is about 43% of the Indian landmass. The plateau’s name is anglicized from the Prakrit word called ‘dakkhin’, which comes from the Sanskrit word ‘daksina’, which means ‘The South’. The Deccan Plateau is situated in the southern part of the Indo-Gangetic basin and extends over eight Indian States which are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

Source: Forest Dept Holds First Cyclothon in Kawal Tiger