Male Mahadeshwara Hill WildLife Sanctuary

Why in the News?

1. A tragic incident took place at the Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka.
2. A tigress and her four cubs were found dead.
3. This has caused serious concern among forest officials and wildlife lovers.
4. The Karnataka Forest Minister has ordered a detailed investigation into the matter.

What are the Key Highlights?

1. Name: Malai Mahadeshwara / Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Location: Eastern Ghats, Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka
3. Named After: Lord Male Mahadeshwara (temple located inside the sanctuary)
4. Distance: 140 km from Mysore, 210 km from Bangalore
5. Established: 2013
6. Total Area: 906.187 sq. km (part of a larger 1,224 sq. km region)
7. Status: Protected Wildlife Sanctuary; pending notification as a Tiger Reserve
8. Geographical Importance:
   1. Lies near the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu
   2. Forms part of a contiguous tiger habitat
9. Borders:
   1. North & East: Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka)
   2. South: Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu)
   3. West: Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve (Karnataka)
10. Flora:
    1. Dominated by dry and moist deciduous forests
    2. Faces ecological threat from Lantana invasion in many areas
11. Fauna:
    1. Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus)
    2. Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) – growing population since 2013
    3. Gaur, Wild boar, Indian leopard, Dhole
    4. Spotted deer, Barking deer, Sambar
    5. Four-horned antelope, Black-naped hare, Chevrotain
    6. Primates: Common langur, Bonnet macaque
    7. Other species: Honey badger
    8. Kollegal ground gecko (Cyrtodactylus collegalensis) discovered here in 2013

What are the Challenges and Way Forward?

Challenges	Way Forward
Lack of proper monitoring inside the sanctuary	Increase use of camera traps, drones, and patrols
Possible poisoning by locals or poachers	Create strong community awareness and conduct regular outreach
Delayed detection of unnatural deaths	Install real-time wildlife tracking and improve response time
Weak enforcement of wildlife protection laws	Strengthen law enforcement and punish offenders strictly
Inadequate staff and resources for forest departments	Provide more staff, training, and equipment

Conclusion

This heartbreaking event reminds us of how fragile our natural world is. Protecting wildlife requires constant attention, strict law enforcement, and strong community involvement. Every life lost is a signal to act faster and smarter in saving our forests and the creatures that live in them.

Palamu Tiger Reserve, Jharkhand

Why in the News?

1. A wild male Bengal tiger entered a family's home in Mardu village, near Ranchi.
2. The incident triggered a tense, hours-long rescue operation.
3. The tiger, estimated to be a wild male aged around four to five years, was safely relocated to the Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR).
4. Palamau Tiger Reserve is one of India’s oldest tiger reserves.
5. It is located in Jharkhand and is known for its rich biodiversity.
6. It is one of the first nine tiger reserves launched under Project Tiger in 1973.

What are the Key Highlights?

1. Location: Situated in Jharkhand; surrounded by Netarhat Forest (South), Auranga River (North), Latehar Forest Division (East), Garhwa Forest Division & Sarguja (West).
2. Area: 1129.93 sq.km. It includes core area (414.08 sq.km) and buffer area (715.85 sq.km).
3. Established: In 1973 under Project Tiger.
4. Elevation: Ranges from 200 to 1700 meters above sea level.
5. Rainfall: Average 1075 mm per year. The area is drought-prone due to the rain-shadow effect.
6. Rivers: Watershed for Koel, Burha, and Auranga rivers.
7. Terrain: Hilly and undulating with many streams and valleys.
8. Climate: Tropical monsoon; summer temperatures may rise to 50°C, and winters can fall to 1°C.
9. Soil Types: Nine different types including loamy, fine, skeletal, and coarse soils.

What is the Significance?

1. It is one of the first tiger reserves in India and a model for scientific forest management.
2. The first-ever tiger census using pugmark method was done here in 1932 by J.W. Nicholson.
3. Acts as a key biodiversity hotspot in Eastern India.
4. Home to important wildlife such as:
   1. Tigers, elephants, leopards, sloth bears, grey wolves, dholes
   2. 11 Schedule-I mammal species, 47 mammal species, 174 bird species
   3. 970 plant species, 56 medicinal plants, and 17 grass species
5. Betla National Park (226.32 sq.km) lies within the core zone.

What are the Challenges and Way Forward?

Challenges	Way Forward
1. Frequent forest fires in the past	Continue and improve fire management systems
2. Past issues of poaching and grazing	Strengthen anti-poaching laws and involve local communities
3. Drought-prone area with water scarcity	Build more waterholes and manage aquifers
4. Invasion by non-native plant species (like climbers)	Regular removal of invasive species and promote native flora
5. Poor tourist infrastructure in buffer zones	Develop eco-tourism with strict regulation
6. Low awareness among local people about conservation	Conduct education and outreach programs
7. Need for better habitat restoration	Increase grassland, soil, and moisture conservation activities

Conclusion

Palamau Tiger Reserve is a natural treasure with deep historical, ecological, and conservation importance. With continued efforts in habitat protection, community engagement, and scientific management, it can serve as a model for other forest reserves in India and the world.