Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Bandipur Tiger Reserve

Subject – Environment

Context – Forest Minister of Karnataka UmeshKatti has said that the existing road passing through Bandipur is in good condition and there is no need for its widening.

Concept –

• It was established in 1973 under Project Tiger. In 1985, by including adjacent areas from Venugopala Wildlife Park, it was enlarged and named as Bandipur National Park.
• It is situated in two contiguous districts (Mysore and Chamarajanagar) of Karnataka and is located at the tri-junction area of the States Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• It forms a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• It lies in one of the richest biodiversity areas of the country. It is surrounded by
  • Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu) in the South,
  • Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the South-west &
  • The Kabini Reservoir separates the Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserve on the North-west.
• It is endowed with rich floral and faunal diversity and is recognized as one of the Mega Biodiversity Areas in the country.
• The Bandipur along with Nagarahole, Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam & Wayanad constitutes the single largest Wild population of Tigers in the world.
• This Landscape is also home to the single largest Asian Elephant population in the world and is part of the Mysore Elephant Reserve (MER).
• The park is located between the Kabiniriver in the north and the Moyar river in the south. The Nugu river runs through the park. The highest point in the park is on a hill called Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta.