In news- Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) recently reintroduced into the wild an abandoned nine-month-old tiger cub named Mangala after rearing it in ‘captivity’ for two years.
About the reserve-
- It is a protected area located in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala.
- It is notable as an elephant reserve and a tiger reserve.
- It was declared as a National Park in 1982.
- The park forms the major watershed of two important rivers – the Periyar and the Pamba.
- The park is located high in the Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills of the south Western Ghats along the border with Tamil Nadu.
- The highest peak in the park is Kottamala.
- The other prominent peaks within the park are Pachayarmala, Vellimala, Sunderamala, Chokkampetti mala and Karimala.
- The sanctuary surrounds Periyar Lake, which was formed when the Mullaperiyar Dam was erected in 1895.
- The park is made up of tropical evergreen and moist deciduous forests, grasslands.
- The mammals include the gaur, sambar, wild pig, Indian giant squirrel, Travancore flying squirrel, jungle cat, Dhole, sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Salim Ali’s fruit bat and stripe-necked mongoose.
Source: Indian Express
