Tiger Reserves in Chhattisgarh - UPSC Current Affairs

The state is home to several tiger reserves. Here are the major tiger reserves in Chhattisgarh:

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1. Indravati Tiger Reserve

Indravati Tiger Reserve is located in the Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, India.
Indravati Tiger Reserve is home to one of the last remaining populations of the endangered Wild Water Buffalo.
In 1981, Indravati Wildlife Sanctuary was established under the Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972.
In 1983, Indravati Wildlife Sanctuary was upgraded to the status of a tiger reserve.
Area: It covers an approximate area of 2,799 square kilometers.
- Core / critical tiger habitat : 1258.37 sq.km.
- Buffer / peripheral area : 1540.70 sq.km.
- Total : 2799.07 sq.km.
River: The reserve is named after the Indravati River, which flows through the tiger reserve.
- Indravati River
Flora: Sal, Teak, Bamboo, Mahua, Semal, Harra, Arjun, Palas, Anjan, Indian Gooseberry, Flame of the Forest etc.
Fauna: Tiger, Wild Water Buffalo, Leopard, Striped Hyena, Sloth Bear, Chital, Sambar, Barking Deer, Gaur, White-necked Stork, Common Grey Hornbill, Freshwater Crocodile, Common Monitor Lizard etc.

Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve is located in the Gariaband district of Chhattisgarh state, India.
In 1974, The reserve was initially established as the Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
In 1983, the Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary was established.
In 1998, Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary and Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary merged and renamed Udanti Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
In 2008-09, the Udanti Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as a tiger reserve.
Area: The reserve has a total area of 1,842.54 square kilometers, which is divided as follows:
- Core/Critical Tiger Habitat: 851.09 square kilometers
  - Core I Udanti: 275.77 square kilometers
  - Core II Sitanadi: 575.32 square kilometers
- Buffer Area: 991.45 square kilometers
River: The reserve is named after two prominent rivers that flow through the reserve:
- Udanti River
- Sitanadi River
Flora: Sal, Teak, Mahua, Bamboo, Terminalia species, Semal, Kusum, Harra, Tendu etc.
Fauna: Tigers, Asiatic Wild Buffalos, Panthers, Wild Dogs, Striped Hyena, Sambar, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Malabar Pied Hornbill, White-bellied Drongo, Red Junglefowl, Indian Rock Python,Mugger Crocodile etc.
Asiatic Wild Buffalo is found in the Core Area of tiger reserve.

The Achanakmar Tiger Reserve is located in Mungeli district of Chhattisgarh, India.
It is a part of the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.
In 1975, Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary was established.
In 2005, Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve was created by Government of India. This biosphere reserve includes Achanakmar Tiger Reserve and the adjacent Amarkantak plateau.
In 2009, Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary declared as a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger.
In 2012, Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve was recognized by UNESCO.
Area: The tiger reserve spans an area of 553.286 square kilometers (213.534 square miles).
Hills: The tiger reserve situated in the Maikal mountain range.
- Maikal Mountain Range
River: The Maniyari River passes through the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve.
- Maniyari River
Flora: Sal, Teak, Bamboo, Mahua, Terminalia species, Semal, Harra, Jamun, Amaltas etc.
Fauna: Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Gaur, Striped Hyena, Sloth Bear, Ussuri Dhole, Chital, Sambar, Indian Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Rock Python, Monitor Lizard etc.

Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve is located in Koriya and Surajpur district of Chhattisgarh state of India.
Guru Ghasidas National Park was the last known habitat of the Asiatic Cheetah in India
The reserve is a part of the larger Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.
In 1983, It was established as Sanjay National Park.
In 2000, Guru Ghasidas National Park was formed from Sanjay National Park when Chhattisgarh was bifurcated from Madhya Pradesh and formed a state in itself. After Creating new state 60% of the Sanjay National Park fell under the district of Koriya in Chhattisgarh.
In 2007, the park was renamed as Guru Ghasidas Ntional Park in honor of Guru Ghasidas, the founder of the Satnami community and a social reformer.
In 2022, the combined areas of the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary declared Tiger Reserve.
It is the 53rd Tiger Reserve in India and 4th tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh.
Area: The Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve spans an area of approximately 2,108 square kilometers.
- Guru Ghasidas National Park (1,500 km2)
- Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary (608.51 Km²)
River: Following rivers flows through Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve are:
- Banas River
- Bijaur Nala
- Hasdeo River
Flora: teak, sal, and bamboo etc.
Fauna: Tiger, Leopard,Chital,Chinkara,Sambar, Four-horned Antelope,Striped Hyena,Bison,Wild Dog,Sloth Bear,Grey-headed Fish Eagle, Red Junglefowl, Indian Python etc.