ACHANAKMAR TIGER RESERVE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2022 census reveals a significant rise in the tiger population at Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh, with numbers doubling from 5 to 10.

Achanakmar Tiger Reserve

• Location: It is situated in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh.
• Establishment: Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1975 and was declared a tiger reserve in 2009.
• Area: It covers an area of 553.286 sq. km.
• Biosphere Reserve: It is part of the huge Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.
• Tiger Corridor: It has a corridor connecting to Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and plays a critical role in the dispersal of tigers among these reserves.
• River: The Maniyari River flows right from the centre of this reserve, which is the forest's lifeline.
• Tribe: It is home to the Baigas, a forest-dwelling tribal community classified as a “Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG)”.
• Vegetation: Tropical moist deciduous vegetation covers the majority of the area.
• Flora: Sal, bija, saja, haldu, teak, tinsa, dhawara, lendia, khamar, and bamboo bloom here, along with over 600 species of medicinal plants.
• Fauna: It includes the tiger, leopard, bison, flying squirrel, Indian giant squirrel, chinkara, wild dog, hyena, sambar, chital, and over 150 species of birds.