What is the News ?

Recently, a tiger was found dead in the Susarda range within the buffer zone of Melghat Tiger Reserve's Paratwada division.

Facts About:

The name "Melghat" signifies the confluence of various 'ghats' or valleys, reflecting the landscape of the reserve.

Location: Melghat Tiger Reserve is situated in the Amaravati district of Maharashtra.

• It's positioned on the southern offshoot of the Satpura Hill Range known as Gavilgarh Hill, approximately 225 km west of Nagpur.

Establishment: It was initially designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1967 and later declared a tiger reserve in 1974.

• Melghat was one of the first nine tiger reserves established under Project Tiger in 1973-74, an initiative for the conservation of Bengal tigers in India.
• It is one of the largest tiger reserves in India in terms of its area.

Rivers: Melghat Tiger Reserve serves as the catchment area for five significant rivers: Khandu, Khapra, Sipna, Gadga, and Dolar.

Vegetation: The forest primarily consists of tropical dry deciduous trees, with teak being the dominant species.

Wildlife: Apart from Bengal tigers, the reserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including Sloth Bears, Indian Gaur, Sambar deer, Leopards, Nilgais, and more.

• Notably, the endangered Forest Owlet, once believed to be extinct, has been found in various areas of Melghat.

Tribal Communities: The largest tribal community in Melghat is the Korkus.