Context
During Wildlife Week, villagers from 25 villages near Palamu Tiger Reserve (Jharkhand) voluntarily surrendered 31 country-made guns to support wildlife protection.
About Palamu Tiger Reserve
- Location: Chhotanagpur Plateau, mainly in Latehar district, Jharkhand; it is Jharkhand’s only tiger reserve.
- Establishment: Notified in 1974 under Project Tiger; among India’s first nine tiger reserves.
- Historical significance: In 1932, W. Nicholson supervised a tiger census using pugmarks (footprints), making Palamu the first reserve to use this method for tiger counting.
- Terrain and geology: Hills, valleys and plains with gneiss, granite and limestone
- Rivers: The North Koel, Auranga and Burha rivers flow through the reserve.
- Vegetation: Moist and dry deciduous forests, dominated by Sal and bamboo.
- Wildlife: Tiger, Asian elephant, leopard, grey wolf, wild dog, gaur, sloth bear and four-horned antelope.
- Protected areas: Includes Betla National Park (Jharkhand) and Palamau Wildlife Sanctuary (Jharkhand).
FAQs
Q1. When was Palamu Tiger Reserve established?
Ans. It was notified in 1974 under Project Tiger and was among the first nine tiger reserves in India.
Q2. Which rivers flow through the reserve?
Ans. The North Koel, Auranga and Burha rivers flow through its valleys.
Q3. What type of forests are found in the reserve?
Ans. It mainly contains moist and dry deciduous forests, with Sal and bamboo as important vegetation.
