Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR)

Palamu Tiger Reserve Latest News 

For the first time in Jharkhand, the tiger which had vacated its haunt in the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) and wandered off into the Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary in Jharkhand and West Bengal’s Purulia a few months back will be brought back to its native territory. 

About Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR)

• 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 droughted with Burha being the only perennial river.
• The Reserve is very rich in minerals like Bauxite and Coal.

Vegetation of Palamu Tiger Reserve 

• 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 and Fauna of Palamu Tiger 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.

Palamu Tiger Reserve FAQs

Q1: Which river flows through the Palamu Tiger Reserve?

Ans: North Koel, Burha and Auranga rivers

Q2: Which is the largest Sal forest in India?

Ans: Saranda forest 

Q3: Which ministry is NTCA under?

Ans: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Source: NIE