Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR)

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Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve Latest News

The number of big cats in the Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in the Nallamala forest area has increased from 74 in 2023 to 76 in 2024, as per the Annual Report on Status of Tigers, Prey and Other Mammals-2024.

About Nagarjuna Sagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

Location: It is located in the Nallamala hill ranges (an offshoot of the Eastern Ghats) of Andhra Pradesh.
This is the largest tiger reserve in the country, spreading over an area of 5937 sq. km.
It hosts the largest tiger population in the Eastern Ghat landscape.
It is named after two major dams in the area, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and Srisailam Dam.
Two wildlife sanctuaries, namely Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary (GBM), constitute the NSTR.
The river Krishna traverses through this reserve for a linear distance of around 270 kilometers.
Topography: It consists of plateaus, ridges, gorges, and deep valleys.
Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous forests having an undergrowth ofbamboo and grass.
Flora: The habitat has several endemics like Andrographis nallamalayana, Eriolaena lushingtonii, Crotalaria madurensis Var, Dicliptera beddomei, and Premna hamiltonii.
Fauna:
- Top faunal species include Tiger, Leopard, Wolf, Wild Dog and Jackal.
- The prey species are represented by Sambar, Chital, Chowsingha, Chinkara, Mouse Deer, Wild boar, and Porcupine.
- The river Krishna has Muggers, Otters and Turtles.