New Delhi: India has several notable wildlife sanctuaries which are hotspots of biodiversity, having a wide range of flora and fauna. Among those sanctuaries, the Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is a prominent one and is loved by travellers and wildlife enthusiasts for its biodiversity. It is a wildlife sanctuary in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district. Notably, it is the oldest and largest national park in Maharashtra. It was created in 1955 and includes the Tadoba National Park and the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary.
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve: Maharashtra’s Big Cat Pride
The name ‘Tadoba’ has been taken from the god “Tadoba” or “Taru”, whom the tribal people who live in the dense forests of the Tadoba and Andhari region worship. The name ‘Andhari’ is taken from the Andhari river that flows through the forest.
According to legends, Taru was a village chief whom a tiger killed in a mythological encounter. Taru was deified and a shrine was created in his honour which now stands under a large tree on the Tadoba Lake’s banks. Adivasis frequent the temple, especially during a fair held every year in the Pausha month, which is December and January.
The forests were once ruled by the Gond kings and in 1935, hunting was banned in the region. In 1955, 116.54 square kilometres of the forest area was made a national park and in 1986, along with adjacent forests, the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary was created. In 1995, the park and the sanctuary were merged and Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve was established.
The largest national park in Maharashtra
Tadoba Andhari Reserve is Maharashtra’s largest national park and the total area is 625.4 square kilometres. It includes the Tadoba National Park which covers 116.55 square kilometres and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary which covers 508.85 square kilometres. The reserve has protected forest of 32.51 square kilometres.
The Tadoba Lake is a buffer between the forest of the park and the extensive farmland that stretches till Irai water reservoir. A perennial water source, the lake is a place to thrive for Muggar crocodiles and the reserve also has Kolsa Lake and the Andhari river.
The fauna of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve
There are more than 100 tigers in Tadoba and the Bengal Tiger is the main attraction there. Apart from that, the reserve is home to several animals like gaur, sloth bears, Indian leopards, dhole, nilgai, jungle cats, barking deer, sambar, chital, and chausingha. Marsh crocodiles, which were once common in Maharashtra, live in the Tadoba lake. The place is also home to the likes of Indian python, Indian cobra, Indian star tortoise and Russel’s viper.
The reserve is home to 195 species of birds including some endangered species. Some of the raptors in the park are crested serpent eagle, changeable hawk-eagle and grey-headed fish eagle. Other bird species found in the reserve include Indian pitta, the orange-headed thrush, stone curlew, crested treeswift, paradise flycatcher, crested honey buzzard, black-naped blue flycatcher, the Indian peafowl and lesser goldenbacked woodpecker.
The problem of forest fires
During the dry season, the problems of forest fires is a constant and it burns down a significant portion of the park every year. The tigers and leopards kill domestic livestock and it is a frequent phenomenon in nearby villages. It adversely impacts the economic condition of the local people.
Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra’s largest national park, is a renowned biodiversity hotspot. Established in 1955, it encompasses Tadoba National Park and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
