Latest Development:
- Authorities have issued eviction notices to two prominent religious institutions and two businessmen occupying land inside the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district.
- The move is part of efforts to safeguard wildlife habitats and enforce forest conservation laws.
About Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve:
- Location: BR Hills (Biligirirangana Hills), Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka.
- Geographic Significance: Situated at the ecological junction between the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, making it a unique bio-geographical habitat.
- Declared Tiger Reserve: 2011.
- Area: 574.82 sq.km.
- Elevation: ~5,091 feet above sea level.
Origin of Name:
- Biligiri means “white rocky cliff”, home to the ancient Rangaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
- The name is also linked to the white mist and silvery clouds covering the hills for much of the year.
Tribal Community:
- Soliga tribe resides within the reserve.
- In 2011, Soligas became the first tribal community in India to have their forest rights recognised inside a tiger reserve through a court judgment.
Vegetation Types:
- Scrub forests
- Dry deciduous forests
- Moist deciduous forests
- Shola forests
- Montane grasslands
Flora:
- Anogeissus latifolia, Dalbergia paniculata, Grewia teliaefolia, Terminalia alata, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia paniculata, among others.
Fauna:
- Tigers, elephants, leopards, wild dogs, bison, sambar deer, spotted deer, barking deer, four-horned antelope, sloth bear, wild boar, common langur, bonnet macaque, various reptiles, and diverse bird species.
Significance:
- The BRT Tiger Reserve is a vital biodiversity hotspot and an ecological corridor between the Ghats, making its protection crucial for long-term wildlife conservation.