wildlife sanctuary wildlife sanctuary protected area tiger reserve western indian state declared wildlife sanctuary enlarged covers forest area km2 largest wildlife sanctuary fourth tiger reserve state forest range significant wildlife corridor western rest genetic link protected areas including national park sanctuary covers parts north western tamil history forests declared sanctuary effect november governor government sent proposal declare tiger reserve subsequently approved wildlife survey conducted tigers sighted forest area july minister state environment forests requested chief minister consider possibility proposing wildlife sanctuary tiger reserve provisions area forests tiger reserves april announced initiate action declare sanctuary tiger reserve consistent sighting tigers forest area tiger reserve declaration strengthen wildlife conservation efforts sanctuary managers financial support central government government india provide support appoint additional anti fund establishment anti camps march principal chief forests said proposal according tiger reserve status consideration said studies camera traps indicated tigers forests camera trap tiger density study conducted indicated sanctuary home tigers year dna based project initiated state forest department collected samples forests found positive tigers tests conducted center molecular biology findings indicated region home tigers supported reports tiger sightings submitted detailed report state government supporting tiger reserve proposal proposal came consideration april chief wildlife warden said proposal tiger reserve sent approval funding march government india order declared wildlife sanctuary fourth tiger reserve state total area originally declared sanctuary km2 boundaries sanctuary range forests ranges forests north rivers south eastern boundary formed reserved forests national park west sanctuary includes areas reserved forests km2 extension km2 reserved forests km2 extension km2 september department forests increased sanctuary area declaring additional km2 seven reserve forests forest division largest additional area km2 km2 reserve forests increasing total sanctuary area km2 total area core zone comprises km2 reserved forests tourism allowed zone forest officials permitted entry core zone flora forest tropical dry forest south plateau dry deciduous forests distinct forest types tropical semi mixed deciduous dry deciduous forests forests restricted small patches high altitude hill tops metres metres patches threatened account land use changing hill agriculture plantation crops including fruit semi forests found high altitude mixed dry deciduous forests located middle altitude slopes forests usually found foot hills times degradation dry deciduous forests middle elevations forest division forest cover significant areas mixed support large population preferred prey tigers fauna forests link eastern western allowing gene flow diverse fauna populations regions wildlife survey conducted tigers indian elephants survey party observed additional species including spotted deer deer deer wild bears striped famous feral spotted places near river wildlife survey counted tigers december stated sanctuary home tigers confirmed camera trap study conducted national wildlife survey tigers recorded census forests home indian elephants protected area consists largest asian elephant population world birds bird species including noted bird survey conducted forests total species birds recorded survey small population critically endangered indian vulture species discovered thriving river valley nests sighted population estimated consist adults sighted region 1970s vulture bird rapidly disappearing india significant caused decline vulture population banned vulture numbers started grow issues conservation conservation administered governed wildlife sanctuary conservation programmes run government india sanctuary listed places india tigers international wild life trade monitoring network traffic february announced monitor tiger population tiger reserves including reserve faces issues forest fires grazing cattle growth invasive plant species damaging ecosystem man animal conflicts common especially elephants elephants raid crop fields illegal electric fences protect crops mortally wound elephants elephants month period january april solar powered fencing short safe electric shock laid length kilometres prevent entry elephants agricultural lands state forest department dug trenches cost prevent elephants entering human habitats prey domestic cattle goats killed single month november national highway passes wildlife sanctuary wildlife deaths reported movement highway night tribal population forests home indigenous tribal people belonging largely tribe known communities state forest department officials conducted study cattle human population seven forest settlements revenue settlements inside protected area engage collecting honey families live villages kilometres radius surrounding park engage agriculture grazing animals collecting minor forest produce honey fuel wood fish according scheduled tribes act entitled use designated land park area agriculture title deeds distributed vacated stay order issued madras high court prohibiting forests home notorious criminal living ivory forests selling black market killed october
Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary