Why in the News?

In a first-of-its-kind, over 50 grass species were identified during a  two-day workshop and survey on ‘Grasses Identification and Grassland Management’ at the Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR).

About Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is located in the Kurnool & Prakasam of Andhra Pradesh with an area of 1194 sq km.
• Located between two important hill passes known as "Mantralamma kanuma" and "Nandi kanuma".
• The Northern part of this Sanctuary forms a major part of the Southern boundary for Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve.
• River: The Gundlakamma River stretches across the sanctuary.
• It also has many, mesic sites and ancient rock formations.
• Indicator Species: Tiger, Panther, Wild dog, Bats, Fig trees.
• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary on September 18, 1990.
• Forest Type: Dry mixed deciduous forest, moist dry deciduous, semi-evergreen, dry deciduous scrub forest and dry savannahs.
• Flora: The forest is an adobe to medicinal plants of which 10 are critically endangered, 21 are Endangered and 27 species are vulnerable.
• The plants like Madhuca longifolia, Dellenia pentagyna, Aristolochia indica, Terminalia arjuna, Pithecolobium ducle, Adina cordifolia, Vanda spp; etc; thrive here.
• Fauna: Wildlife like Tiger, Leopard, Flying squirre. angur, jungle cat, panther, tiger, mouse deer, hyena, bonnet monkey etc; are found here.