Anamalai Tiger Reserve – Geography, Climate, Rivers, Species
From Prelims Sureshots » Protected Areas
The Anamalai Tiger Reserve, also known as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, is situated in the Western Ghats of southern India. It is located in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, and is the largest protected area in South India. The reserve covers an area of 958 sqkm and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. It is a major tourist destination and is home to a plethora of wildlife species, including the endangered Bengal Tiger.
This topic of “Anamalai Tiger Reserve – Geography, Climate, Rivers, Species” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Portion.
Geography
- The Anamalai Tiger Reserve lies in the southern Western Ghats, in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.
- The reserve is bordered by the Nilgiri Reserve Forest to the north, the Palani Hills to the east and the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve to the south.
- It covers an area of 958 sqkm and is divided into the core area of 517 sqkm and the buffer zone of 441 sqkm.
- The core area comprises of the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, while the buffer zone is made up of the Anamalai and Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuaries.
- The terrain in the reserve is mostly hilly and rugged, with the highest peak being the Anaimudi at a height of 2,637 meters above sea level.
Climate
The Anamalai Tiger Reserve has a tropical climate with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 31°C. The area receives an average annual rainfall of 1500 mm. The reserve falls in the tropical wet climate zone, which has a dry season from December to February and a wet season from June to October.
Rivers
1. Bhavani River 2. Nallar River 3. Attakallar River 4. Thirumurthy River 5. Sholiyar River 6. Parambikulam River 7. Thunakadavu River 8. Kallar River 9. Thekkedy River 10. Aliyar River
Threatened Species
The Anamalai Tiger Reserve is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including several threatened species. The reserve is home to the Bengal Tiger, Indian Elephant, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Tahr, Leopard, Nilgiri Langur, Wild Dog, and several species of birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Many of these species are endangered or threatened, and are protected by the reserve.
