Panna Tiger Reserve

About Panna Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is a critical tiger habitat located in the Vindhyan mountain range in the northern part of Madhya Pradesh.
• Standing over an area of 542 sq.km., it is the only Tiger Reserve in the entire Bundhelkhand region.
• It was declared a Project Tiger Reserve by the Government of India in 1994. 
• Landscape:
  • It is characterized with a 'Table Top' topography.
  • It consists of extensive plateaus and gorges.
• River: Ken River flows from south to north through the reserve.
• The reserve is also dotted with two-thousand-year-old rock paintings.
• Flora:
  • The dominant vegetation type is dry deciduous forest interspersed with grassland areas.
  • In the north, it is surrounded by teak forest, and in the east, it is surrounded by Teak-Kardhai mixed forest. It is the northernmost boundary of natural distribution to teak (Tectona grandis).
  • The tree species Acacia catachu dominates the dry, steep slopes of the plateaus here.
• Fauna:
  • It supports a sizable population of Tiger, Sloth Bear, Leopard, and Striped Hyena.
  • Other prominent carnivores are Jackal, Wolf, Wild Dog, Jungle Cat, and Rusty Spotted Cat.
  • The NE-SW running Vindhya Hill ranges link the eastern and western population of wild animals.

Key Facts about Canine Distemper:

• It is a contagious and serious disease caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV).
• The virus attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs.
• All dogs are at risk of canine distemper. Those at particular risk include puppies younger than four months and dogs that have not been vaccinated against CDV.
• In addition to dogs, CDV can infect ferrets as well as a wide range of other mammals, especially carnivores.
• Transmission: Infection is transmitted mainly via aerosol droplet secretions from infected animals. Some infected dogs may shed virus particles for several months.
• Coughing is the most common symptom. They usually develop fever and discharge from the eyes and/or nose.
• Treatment:
  • There is no cure, and no antiviral drugs have been approved to combat the infection. 
  • The best way to prevent canine distemper is through vaccination.

Q1: What is a gorge?

A gorge is a narrow valley with steep, rocky walls located between hills or mountains. The term comes from the French word gorge, which means throat or neck. A gorge is often smaller than a canyon, although both words are used to describe deep, narrow valleys with a stream or river running along their bottom.

Source: MP: Canine Distemper Virus Infection Looms in Panna Tiger Reserve