Valmiki Tiger Reserve

22-12-2023

Valmiki Tiger Reserve

Why in the news?

Authorities in Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) have credited the rise in the protected area’s tiger numbers to a reduction in human activities, including restrictions on illegal mining in its eco-sensitive zone.

About the Valmiki Tiger Reserve:

• It is located at the India-Nepal border in the West Champaran district of Bihar.
• It is situated in the Gangetic Plains biogeographic zone of the country.
• It forms the easternmost limit of the Himalayan Terai forests in India and is the only tiger reserve in Bihar.
• In 1978, it was designated as a Wildlife Sanctuary.
• In 1990, Valmiki National Park was established.
• The Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is the country’s 18th Tiger Reserve. Valmiki National Park and Valmiki Wild Sanctuary make up the Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
• The tiger reserve shares a border with Nepal’s Chitwan National Park.
• It comprises the Valmiki National Park and Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It is surrounded by the Royal Chitwan National Park of Nepal in the north and the river Gandak on the western side.
• Rivers: Rivers Gandak, Pandai, Manor, Harha, Masan, and Bhapsa flow through various parts of the reserve.
• The forest of this region has a combination of bhabar and terai tracts.
• Vegetation: It has mainly Moist mixed deciduous, Open-land vegetation, Sub-mountainous semi-evergreen formation, Freshwater swamps, Riparian fringes, Alluvial grasslands, high hill savannah and Wetlands.
• Flora: Sal, rohini, sihor, teak, bamboo, semal, Mandar, shisham, Jamun, Gular etc.
• Fauna: Tigers, Leopards and Indian Wild Dogs are large predators. Leopard cat and fishing cat, Deer, sambar, barking deer and hog deer etc.

                                                            Source: Down to earth