Context: 

• Recently, a woman was killed by a tiger in the Hediyala range of Bandipur National Park.

More on News:

• The tiger responsible for a woman’s death has been identified through camera trap images.
• Authorities have initiated night combing operations in response to the identification, aiming to locate and capture the tiger.

About Bandipur National Park:

• Location: Mysuru, Karnataka
• Neighboring Parks: Adjacent to Nagarhole National Park, Mudumalai National Park (Tamil Nadu), and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala).

• • Bandipur Tiger Reserve is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
    • The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was the first biosphere reserve in India established in the year 1986.
    • It encompasses parts of Tamilnadu, Kerala   and Karnataka.
• Establishment: In 1973, Bandipur was among the first nine reserves brought under Project Tiger.  In 1985, it included most of the forest areas of the then Venugopala Wildlife Park and named as Bandipur National Park. 
• Rivers: The park is located between the Kabini river in the north and the Moyar river in the south. The Nugu river runs through the park. 
• Flora and Fauna: 
  • Apart from the two famed residents (tigers and elephants), a number of other endangered species such as sloth bears, gaurs, Indian rock pythons, jackals, muggers, and four-horned antelopes can be spotted in this national park.
  • Bandipur also supports a wide range of timber trees including teak, rosewood, sandalwood, Indian-laurel, Indian Kino tree, giant clumping bamboo.

About ‘Project Tiger’:

• It was launched on April 1, 1973 from  Jim Corbett National Park.
• Objective: to promote conservation of the tiger.
• It not only focused on the conservation of the tiger but also ensured the preservation of their natural habitat as tigers are at the top of the food chain. 
• Protection Status:
• • Schedule I: Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
  • Endangered: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
  • Appendix I: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Also Read: Project Tiger And Project Elephant Merger

India’s largest Tiger Reserve: 

• Damoh district in Madhya Pradesh is set to become the country’s largest tiger reserve. 
• The central government has given its nod to merge the Noradehi Sanctuary with the Durgavati Sanctuary in Damoh district. 
• Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary:  Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, spanning around 1,197 sq km, is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. 
• It acts as a crucial corridor connecting Panna and the Satpura Reserves, indirectly linking Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve through Rani Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary.

News Source: The HIndu

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