Context:
After several decades, the locally extinct Indian gaur has been spotted in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in Andhra Pradesh.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- Indian Gaur
- Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR)
Indian Gaur:
- Scientific Name: Bos gaurus
- Distribution: Indigenous to South and Southeast Asia.
- Habitat:
- Found in evergreen, semi-evergreen forests, and moist deciduous forests with open grasslands.
- Prefers hilly terrains below 1,500-1,800 m altitude with large, undisturbed forest tracts and abundant water.
- Physical Features:
- Length: 240 cm to 340 cm; Tail length: 70 cm to 105 cm.
- Height: 170 cm to 230 cm.
- Weight: Adult males: 600 kg to 1500 kg; Adult females: 400 kg to 1000 kg.
- Distinctive convex shape on the forehead, strong limbs, and short tails.
- Both males and females have horns with a slightly inward curvature, pale green or yellowish-brown in color.
- Behavior:
- Social animals living in groups of about 30 to 40.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
- Protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Schedule I).
- Listed in CITES Appendix I.
Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR):
- Location: Situated in the Nallamala hill ranges, an offshoot of the Eastern Ghats, spanning across the undivided districts of Guntur, Prakasam, and Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh.
- Establishment: Attained the status of a Tiger Reserve in 1983.
- Size: The largest tiger reserve in India, covering an area of 5,937 square kilometers.
- Name: Named after two major dams in the region, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and Srisailam Dam.
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: Comprises Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary (GBM).
- River: The river Krishna flows through the reserve for approximately 270 kilometers.
- Topography: Varied terrain including plateaus, ridges, gorges, and deep valleys.
- Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous forests with bamboo and grass undergrowth.
- Flora: Home to endemic species such as Andrographis nallamalayana, Eriolaena lushingtonii, Crotalaria madurensis Var, Dicliptera beddomei, and Premna hamiltonii.
- Fauna: Rich biodiversity including top predators like Tiger, Leopard, Wolf, Wild Dog, and Jackal. Prey species include Sambar, Chital, Chowsingha, Chinkara, Mouse Deer, Wild Boar, and Porcupine. The river Krishna supports Mugger Crocodiles, Otters, and Turtles.
-Source: Financial Express
