Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary

About Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is situated north of Bandipur National Park in Mysore District, Karnataka.
• It covers about 30 sq km, and the northern part of the sanctuary is occupied by the Nugu Reservoir. It is built across the Nugu River, a tributary of the Cauvery.
• In 1974, Nugu was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary, and later, in year 2003-2004, the area of Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary was added to the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. 
• Rainfall: The area receives rainfall from both south-west and north-east monsoons. The average amount of rainfall received in this area is 1000mm.
• Vegetation: Most of the vegetation in the forests is dry, deciduous, interspersed with patches of plantations.
• Flora:
  • Common species of trees found in this sanctuary are Anogeissus latifolia, Tectonia grandis, and Terminalia tomentosa.
  • Other species of trees that are dominant in this forest canopy include medicinal and commercially important tree species like Emblica officinalis, Santalum album, Albizia spp., and Dendrocalamus strictus.
• Fauna: The wildlife population includes elephant, leopard, jungle cat, wild pig, spotted deer, sambar deer, barking deer, mouse deer, jackal, hare, common mongoose, common otter, small Indian civet, common palm civet, and porcupine.

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

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation. NTCA consists of the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Environment and Forests ( as Chairperson), the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and Forests (as Vice-Chairperson), three members of Parliament, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests and other members.

Source: NTCA recommends declaring Nugu as a core critical area of Bandipur