Daily News Analysis ‘Sariska Tiger Reserve’ : 23 June

Sariska Tiger Reserve:

• Location and Status:

• • • Situated in the Aravalli hills, Alwar district, Rajasthan.

    • Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and a tiger reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger.

    • Spans an area of about 800 sq. km.

    • Notable as the first reserve in the world to successfully relocate tigers.

• Historical and Cultural Significance:

• • • Contains ancient temples, forts, palaces, and lakes.

    • Kankarwadi Fort — where Aurangzeb imprisoned Dara Shikoh.

    • Famous Hanuman temple at Pandupole, associated with the Pandavas.

    • Other notable sites: Bhangarh Fort, Ajabgarh, Pratapgarh, Siliserh Lake, Jai Samand Lake.

• Topography and Vegetation:

• • • Characterized by rocky landscapes, scrub-thorn arid forests, grasslands, cliffs, and semi-deciduous woods.

    • Vegetation types:

• Northern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest

• Northern Tropical Thorn Forest

• • • Dominant flora includes Dhok trees.

    • Other plants: Salar, Kadaya, Gol, Ber, Banyan, Gugal, Bamboo, Kair, Adusta, etc.

• Wildlife (Fauna):

• • Known for its Royal Bengal Tigers.

  • Other species: Leopard, Sambhar, Chital, Nilgai, Four-horned Antelope, Wild Boar, Hyena, Jungle Cats, etc.

Why in News?

A plan to adjust the boundary of Sariska Tiger Reserve’s Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) may allow over 50 closed marble and dolomite mines to reopen, which were earlier shut by a Supreme Court order due to their proximity to the reserve.