Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR)

About Sahyadri Tiger Reserve (STR)

• Location: It is located in the Sahyadri Ranges of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra.
• The reserve spreads over Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, forming the northern portion, and Chandoli National Park, forming the southern part of the reserve. STR was created by merging the areas of these two forests in 2007.
• The region of the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve includes the area around the Koyna Dam, the Warna River, and many other small rivers and streams originating from the Western Ghats and flowing to the east.
• History:
  • The history of the area dates back to the Maratha Empire, and many forts built or captured by the first Maratha Emperor Shivaji Bhonsle can be found here.
  • The legendary temple from which Shivaji received the Bhavani Sword from divine providence is also said to be among the many ruins in this region.
• Habitat:
  • The total area of STR is undulating, with steep escarpments along the western boundary.
  • The most distinct feature of the Tiger Reserve is the presence of numerous barren rocky and lateritic plateaus, locally called “Sadas”, with less perennial vegetation and overhanging cliffs on the edges, along with numerous fallen boulders with dense thorny bushes.
  • STR is the only place where climax and near-climax vegetation are plentiful and prospects of adverse anthropogenic influence in the future are minimal.
• Flora:
  • The forest cover here is that of moist evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist, and dry deciduous vegetation.
  • There are many medicinal and fruit-bearing trees along with the commercial hard wood trees in the reserve.
• Fauna:
  • The main carnivores are the tiger, leopard, and some Lesser Cats along with the wolf, jackal, and wild dog.
  • The large herbivores are several deer species like Barking Deer, Sambar, and other large and small animals like Indian Bison, Sloth Bear, Mouse Deer, Giant Indian Squirrel and Macaque.

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.

Source: Tigers to roar in Sahyadri again, 8 from Chanda to be shifted