• A 12-year-old tigress, which had been unwell and roaming near the forest boundary of the Singara range in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), has died, forest officials confirmed.
• The incident has raised concerns about wildlife health management and monitoring within the reserve, which is home to a diverse population of big cats and other species.
• Located in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris District, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve spans 321 sq. km at the tri-junction of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.
• Part of the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve-the first biosphere reserve in India-MTR is known for its rich biodiversity and unique habitats, ranging from tropical evergreen forests to swamps and grasslands.
• The Moyar River flows through the reserve, supporting diverse ecosystems.
• The reserve shares boundaries with Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala, making it an important wildlife corridor.
• It is home to elephants, gaur, deer species, leopards, wild dogs, and tigers, along with nearly 8% of India’s bird species.
• Mudumalai also gained global recognition when the Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers was filmed at its Theppakadu Elephant Camp.