Palamu Tiger Reserve

About Palamu Tiger Reserve:

 

• It is located in the Chhota Nagpur plateau region of Jharkhand.
• The reserve forms a part of the Betla National Park. 
• It is one of the first 9 tiger reserves created in the country at the inception of ‘Project Tiger’.
• It is the first reserve in the world in which a tiger census was carried out as a pugmark count, as early as 1932 under the supervision of J.W. Nicholson
• Three rivers namely North Koyal, Auranga and Burha flow through the valleys.
• The area is draught drone with Burha being the only perennial river.
• The Reserve is very rich in minerals like Bauxite and Coal.
• Vegetation:
  • It is primarily dominated by Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous, Sal Forest and its associates.
  • Smaller patches of Northern tropical Moist Deciduous forests exist too in the Reserve.
• Flora: Shorea robusta, Acacia catechu, Madhuca indica, Terminalia tomentosa, Butea monosperma, Pterocarpus marsupium, Anogeisus latifolia, Indigofera pulchela etc.
• Fauna: Some keystone and principal species found in the reserve include Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, Grey wolf, Wild dog, Gaur, Sloth bear and four horned antelope.

 

Key facts about Cheetal

• The spotted deer or chital is the most common deer species in Indian forests.
• They live in dense forests, forested valleys and also prefer open grasslands, savannas, and plantations.
• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Least concern

 

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Q1) What is Tropical dry deciduous?

Tropical dry deciduous forests are a type of forest ecosystem that is characterized by a distinct dry season, followed by a period of heavy rainfall. These forests are found in regions with a tropical climate, typically between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, where they experience a marked seasonality in precipitation.

Source: Jharkhand: Soft-release centres for Cheetals coming up at Palamu Tiger Reserve