Context
Authorities are concerned that fallow lands around BRT Tiger Reserve may become suitable habitats for big cats, increasing the risk of human–wildlife encounters in nearby villages.
About BRT Tiger Reserve
- Location & Area: Located in the Biligiri Rangana Hills (BR Hills), Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka, covering 574.82 sq. km.
- Elevation: Extends up to about 5,091 feet above sea level.
- Name: Named after the ancient Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu; Biligiri means white rocky cliff.
- Ecological Corridor: Acts as a wildlife corridor between the Western and Eastern Ghats, enabling wildlife movement and gene flow between the two mountain ranges.
Vegetation and Biodiversity
- Vegetation: Ranges from dry scrub and deciduous forests to evergreen forests and high-altitude shola grasslands.
- Flora: Includes Anogeissus latifolia, Dalbergia paniculata, Grewia tiliaefolia and various Terminalia species.
- Fauna: Supports tigers, elephants, leopards, wild dogs, gaurs, deer, four-horned antelope, sloth bears and wild boars, along with diverse birds and reptiles.
Soliga Community
- Soligas are an indigenous forest-dwelling community with a long association with the BRT Hills.
- Forest Rights: In 2011, they became the first tribal community living inside a tiger reserve to have their forest rights recognised through a court judgment.
Significance
- Biodiversity Conservation: Protects diverse forest habitats and wildlife species.
- Community Participation: The Soliga community highlights the role of indigenous communities in forest conservation.
- Watershed Protection: Forest cover helps conserve soil and water resources and supports the ecological stability of the surrounding landscape.
FAQs
Q1. Where is BRT Tiger Reserve located?
Ans: It is located in the Biligiri Rangana Hills of Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka.
Q2. Which two mountain systems are connected by BRT Tiger Reserve?
Ans: It provides ecological connectivity between the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
Q3. Which indigenous community is associated with BRT Tiger Reserve?
Ans: The Soliga community, a forest-dwelling indigenous community, lives in the BRT Hills.
Q4. What types of vegetation occur in BRT Tiger Reserve?
Ans: The reserve has dry scrub and deciduous forests, evergreen forests and high-altitude shola grasslands.
