51st TIGER RESERVE: SRIVILLIPUTHUR–MEGAMALAI TIGER RESERVE

• Be N By IAS, Delhi
• 10, Feb 2021

For: GS-3: Environment, Biodiversity, Project Tiger

CONTEXT:

• Following the Centre’s approval, Tamil Nadu government passed an order on Monday for creating
  • Fifth tiger reserve in Tamil Nadu and
  • 51st in the country.

SRIVILLIPUTHUR–MEGAMALAI TIGER RESERVE:

• The Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve will span the forests of Megamalai wildlife sanctuary and Srivilliputhur grizzled squirrel wildlife sanctuary spread across the districts of Theni, Virudhunagar and Madurai.
• The reserve spread in 1 lakh-hectare area is home to 63 mammal species and 323 bird species.
• NTCA: Last Wednesday, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) conveyed the approval to the Tamil Nadu government.
• The last tiger reserve was notified six years ago in Arunachal Pradesh, Kamlang.
• Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across the districts of Theni and Madurai (Highwavys mountains and Cardamom Hills)
• Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary lies along Kerala’s Periyar Tiger Reserve.
• This would enable Central assistance to the state under the on-going Centrally-sponsored scheme of Project Tiger.

SIGNIFICANE:

1. Umbrella species: Tiger is an ecosystem umbrella species and survival and growth of several of the co-predators and other species could be directly correlated to the growth of tiger.
2. Exchange of genes: Tiger disperses in large areas and such dispersals are important for the exchange of genes. This process was essential for long-term population growth of the big cat.
3. Better tiger conservation: It has been a long-pending demand and will give a boost to tiger conservation in the State.
4. Habitat and Breeding home: Tigers from Periyar Tiger Reserve and Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) regions can find significant habitats and breeding home ranges in Srivilliputhur and Megamalai hilly tracts.
5. Rejuvenation of the Vaigai River: The new tiger reserve will not only help in wildlife protection but will also result in the rejuvenation of the Vaigai River by protecting the river’s origins in these forests.

National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA):

• It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• Established: In 2005, on the recommendations of Tiger Task Force constituted by the Prime Minister of India
• Objective: Protecting the tigers
• It was established under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Function: The Authority lays down standards, guidelines for tiger conservation in
  • Tiger Reserves
  • National Parks and
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries.

PROJECT TIGER:

• Project Tiger is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• It provides central assistance to the tiger States for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves.
• Tiger reserves are governed by the Project Tiger (1973).
• It is administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
• Aim: To Protect tigers from extinction by ensuring a viable population in their natural habitats.

Source: The Hindu

MCQs:
Q. Consider the following statements regarding National Tiger Conservation Authority.

1. It is a statutory body established under Environment Protection Act, 1972.
2. It lays down standards and guidelines for tiger conservation not only in Tiger Reserves but also in National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

• a) 1 Only
• b) 2 Only
• c) Both 1 and 2
• d) None of the above.

ANS: D