About Tiger Reserves

• Tiger reserves are areas that are notified for the protection of the tiger and its prey, and are governed by Project Tiger which was launched in the country in 1973.
• The State Government shall, on recommendation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, notify an area as a tiger reserve
• There are a total of 56 Tiger Reserves in India.
  • Core zone: Critical tiger habitat areas
  • Buffer zone: It is Peripheral area to critical tiger habitat or core area

Why in News?

• Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh has been notified as India’s 56th tiger reserve.

Guru Ghasidas- Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve

• • It is the third largest tiger reserve in India after Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh and Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam.
  • This tiger reserve encompasses the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary.

• The tiger reserve is contiguous with the Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh and is also connected to Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh to the West and Palamau Tiger Reserve in Jharkhand to the East.

• The forests are primarily made up of distinct species of flora such as Teak, Sal, Tendu, Mahua, etc
• Fauna species found here include Tigers, Leopards, Jackals, Barking deer, Wild Boar, Sloth bear, etc