Palamu Tiger Reserve is the only tiger reserve in Jharkhand.
1. Palamu Tiger Reserve (Betla Tiger Reserve)
- Palamu Tiger Reserve is located in Latehar district of Jharkhand, India.
- It is situated in the western part of the Chotanagpur plateau.
- It is also called Betla Tiger Reserve.
- The Palamau Tiger Reserve is only tiger reserve in Jharkhand.
- The reserve is named after the Palamu Fort, a historical fort situated within its boundaries.
- The reserve area is very rich in minerals like Bauxite and Coal.
- In 1932, the world’s first tiger census took place in Palamu Tiger Reserve. It is the first such sanctuary in the world, where tiger census was done on the basis of footprint count.
- Palamau Wildlife Sanctuary was initially created to protect Palamau area biodiversity.
- In 1974, the Palamu Wildlife Sanctuary was upgraded to the status of a tiger reserve, becoming Palamu Tiger Reserve.
- Palamu Tiger Reserve forms part of Betla National Park and Palamau Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Area: Palamu Tiger Reserve encompasses a total area of 1,129.93 square kilometers.
- Core/Critical tiger habitat : 414.08 Km2
- Buffer/peripheral area : 715.85 Km2
- Total : 1129.93 Km2
- Hills: Netarhat is a popular hill station, which is adjacent to Palamu Tiger Reserve.
- Netarhat Hills
- River: Three prominent rivers in the reserve are:
- North Koel River
- Auranga River
- Burha River
- Flora: Sal Forests, Mixed Deciduous Forests: (mahua, tendu, sidha, and amla), Bamboo Forests, Riparian Vegetation (kachnar, babul, and semal), Grasslands etc.
- Fauna: Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, Grey Wolf, Wild Dog, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Four Horned Antelope, Sambar Deer, Chital, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Asian Paradise Flycatcher Crested Serpent Eagle, Indian Rock Python, Russell’s Viper, Indian Monitor Lizard etc.