> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.upscprep.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Previse 2025: Protected areas - URL: https://www.upscprep.com/protected-areas-tiger-reserves-wildlife-sanctuaries-national-parks-biosphere-reserves/ - Published: 2024-04-03T04:00:14.000Z - Updated: 2025-05-01T06:13:37.000Z - Description: Most important NP, BR, WLS for Prelims 2024 - Author: UPSCprep.com - Tags: UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs, #show-toc, Previse 2025 UPSC has often asked questions about protected areas in the news and from static. ## What is a Protected Area? Protected areas or **conservation areas** are locations that receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological, or cultural values. - Protected area is a generic term that includes National Parks, Biosphere Reserve, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Tiger Reserve, Community Reserve etc. - In these areas, human occupation or at least the exploitation of resources is limited. ## Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary ![Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary | Assam | Bengal Florican](https://abhimanuias.com/userfiles/image/assam%20wildlife%20sanctuaries.jpg) **Why in the news?** After 40 years, rhinoceros have returned to this sanctuary. ### About - It is a notified buffer of the Kaziranga Tiger reserve located in Sonitpur district. - It works as the traditional path for wild animals from Kaziranga to Orang National Park. - Being situated on the south bank of the **Brahmaputra River**, it is an ideal habitat for the **Bengal Florican**. - The **Bengal Florican** is also known as the Bengal bustard and is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. ### Flora & Fauna - Flora includes wet **alluvial grasslands** and **semi-evergreen forests** with some **wetlands**. - Fauna includes **Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros**, **tiger**, **wild buffalo**, **wild pig**, **hog deer** and **elephants**. ![Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary | Species in news | Bengal Florican | UPSCprep](https://d18x2uyjeekruj.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/flori.jpg) ![Wild PIg | Bura Chapori WS | Assam](https://media.assettype.com/english-sentinelassam/import/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Toxic-wild-boar-meat-may-have-hospitalised-family_wrbm_large.jpg?w=1200&h=675&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max&enlarge=true) ![Indian hog deer (Axis porcinus) | Bura Chapori WS | UPSC](https://www.thainationalparks.com/img/species/2015/09/12/165015/hyelaphus-porcinus-hog-deer-w-1500.jpg) Bengal Florican, Wild pig, Hog deer --- ## Kamlang Tiger Reserve ![Kamlang Tiger Reserve | UPSCprep](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/07/9207d054-5e99-4b26-b8c8-424994497a07/content/images/2024/04/image-1-1.png) **Why in the news?** Kamlang Tiger Reserve conducted a butterfly walk and nature trail event. ### About - It is named after the **Kamlang River** flowing through it and is situated in the south-eastern part of the Lohit District. - Namdapha National Park is situated on the Southern side and there are many elevated water bodies like the **Glow Lake**. ### Flora & Fauna - The upper parts of the reserve have **Alpine vegetation**, while the lower parts have **tropical and evergreen forests**. - The reserve is home to four big cat species including **tiger**, **leopard**, **snow leopard** and **clouded leopard**. - Other animals include **elephants**, **leopards**, **Hollock gibbons**, **Capped Langur**, **Boar**, **Civets**, **Stump tailed macaques**, **hornbills**, and **flying squirrels**. ![Clouded leopards | UPSCprep](https://www.thethirdpole.net/content/uploads/2021/12/Clouded-leopard-featured-image-alamy.jpg) ![Western hoolock gibbon ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Hoolock_hoolock_001.jpg) ![ Stump tailed macaques | UPSC](https://scontent.fblr21-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/47575749_1996927863676217_6228254186144792576_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=0ZnAMxWkfK0AX8On0Oe&_nc_ht=scontent.fblr21-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTBbhWRK4_7n50xZkeLLrSLCsT-6H4lLAj-hBmfV_2cQ&oe=6633D7D3) Clouded leopard, Hollock gibbons, Stump tailed macaques --- **We can't clear UPSC for you.** But with our ***personalised mentor support***, you'll be ready to do it yourself. [Join Now](https://courses.upscprep.com/products?ref=upscprep.com) --- ## Palamau Tiger Reserve ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/07/9207d054-5e99-4b26-b8c8-424994497a07/content/images/2024/04/398579786_897034225174706_3775547984691189513_n-1.jpg) **Why in the news?** Here, four soft-release centers for Cheetals are under construction. ### About - It is a part of Betla National Park and located in **Chotanagpur plateau**. - The **Auranga River** flows in the Northern part and Koel and Burha are the other rivers forming part of this landscape. - It is the first reserve in the world in which a tiger census was carried out based on pugmark count. - Other water bodies like **aquifers** locally called ‘**Chuan**’ and a **hot sulfur spring** named ‘**Tatha**’ are present. ### Flora & Fauna - Flora includes mixed deciduous forests, bamboo groves and Sal trees in abundance. - Fauna includes **tigers**, **leopards**, **gaur**, **sloth bear**, etc. ![Assam | Leopard | Palamau Tiger Reserve](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/07/9207d054-5e99-4b26-b8c8-424994497a07/content/images/2024/04/466888-152329-xzhkezbzmd-1608557767.jpeg) ![ Gaur | Assam | UPSC](https://indiabioscience.org/imager/articles/189560/Gaur_And_Calf_85173055_4b32b63c5c28c858e051e9d1a2a717a1.jpeg) ![Sloth Bear | UPSC](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/01/f6/f6/01f6f6935aaf3c9ccbd03c9348aad8cf.jpg) Leopards, Gaur, Sloth bear --- ## Kadalundi Vallikunnu Community Reserve ![Kadalundi Vallikunnu Community Reserve | Kerala | UPSC ](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343284201/figure/fig1/AS:943790026141696@1602028485490/Geographical-description-of-mangrove-ecosystems-at-Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu-Community.jpg) ![Kadalundi-Vallikunnu Community Reserve (KVCR), Kerala | UPSC](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Babu-Santhanakrishnan/publication/260528738/figure/fig1/AS:614097490022436@1523423659870/Figure-showing-the-Kadalundi-Vallikunnu-Community-Reserve-KVCR-Kerala-with.png) **Why in the news?** Shrinking mudflat ecosystem of Kadalundi river is keeping shorebirds away. ### About - It is a **mudflat ecosystem** in Kerala and it is India's first riverfront community reserve. - The mudflat ecosystem of Kadalundi witnessed a decline in area which has kept the shorebirds away. - The sediments in a mudflat are found in the **intertidal zone**, making it submerged and exposed approximately twice daily. - This makes it a very rich foraging ground. - A lot of sedimentation in recent years has deprived prey to **migrant birds** and increased **mangrove** expanse. - Covering of sand in mudflats due to Kerala floods in 2018 and 2019 has further deprived the area of its richness. ### Flora & Fauna - Flora found in the region: **Phytoplankton**, **zooplankton**, **seagrass**, seven species of **mangroves**, ten species of **mangrove associate flora** were documented. - Species of **Jellyfish**, 13 species of **molluscs**, 59 species of finfishes and crustacean resources, **Egrets**, **Brahminy Kite**, **Bar-headed goose**, **Smooth-coated Otter** etc. ![Kadalundi Vallikunnu Community Reserve | UPSC | Molluscs](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/07/9207d054-5e99-4b26-b8c8-424994497a07/content/images/2024/04/image-2.png) ![Egrets | Kadalundi Estuary](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/07/9207d054-5e99-4b26-b8c8-424994497a07/content/images/2024/04/image-3.png) ![Smooth-coated Otter | UPSC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/07/9207d054-5e99-4b26-b8c8-424994497a07/content/images/2024/04/image-4.png) Molluscs, Egrets, Smooth-coated Otter --- ## Lemru Elephant Reserve ![Lemru Elephant Reserve | Hasdeo Aranya forests | UPSC](https://i.imgur.com/H13dPqV.jpeg) **Why in the news?** Request to de-notify coal mines under this reserve has been accepted. ### About - It is a part of the **Hasdeo Aranya forests** and known as the lungs of Chhattisgarh. - The reserve has a very diverse biozone that is also rich in **coal deposits**. - It aims to decrease man animal conflict as more than 150 elephants have died in Chattisgarh in the last 20 years. - The reserve is part of an **elephant corridor** that connects Lemru in Korba, Badalkhol in Jashpur and Tamorpingla in Surguja. ### Flora & Fauna - North Chhattisgarh alone is home to over 240 elephants. --- ## Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary ![Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary | Odisha | UPSC](https://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1634890310_image4.jpg) **Why in the news?** High prey density was recorded. ### About - Comprises dry deciduous forest on **Mahanadi River** in Odisha. - It is located in the Bargarh district of Odisha near Hirakud dam. - It became completely free of any human settlement due to a recent resettlement. ### Flora & Fauna - Fauna includes **sambar**, **chital**, **four-horned antelope**, **gaur**, **elephant**, **dhole** etc. - Nearby Hirakud dam attracts numerous **migratory waterfowl** during winters into the sanctuary. ![Chital | Spotted Deer | UPSC](https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2021/08/06/02/52/deer-6525207_1280.jpg) ![Four-horned antelope | Chousingha | Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary | UPSC](https://vajiram-prod.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/Indian_Mouse_Deer_and_Chousingha_4b5b1c85eb.jpg) ![Dhole | UPSC ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Cuon.alpinus-cut.jpg) Chital, Four-horned antelope, Dhole --- ## Anamalai Tiger Reserve ![Anamalai Tiger Reserve | UPSC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/07/9207d054-5e99-4b26-b8c8-424994497a07/content/images/2024/04/image-5.png) **Why in the news?** This reserve is carved out of the Tamil Nadu portion of the Anamalai hills. ### About - It is a CATS recognized reserve in TN with Shola forests. - It is a protected area in the Anamalai Hills lying to the south of the Palakkad gap in the Southern Western Ghats. - It is surrounded by Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Eravikulam National Park and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. ### Flora & Fauna - Habitat types include almost all like the **wet evergreen forests**, **semi-evergreen forests**, **moist deciduous**, **dry deciduous**, **dry thorn** and **shola forests**. - Fauna include **Asiatic elephant**, **Sambar**, **Barking deer**, **Spotted deer**, **Jackal**, **Leopard**, etc. ![Sambar deer | UPSC](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Sambar_%28Cervus_unicolor_unicolor%29_male.jpg) ![Barking deer | UPSC](https://i0.wp.com/www.democraticaccent.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/barking-deer-muntjacs-india.jpg?fit=458%2C309&ssl=1) ![Indian Jackal | UPSC ](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/12400254/large.jpg) Sambar, Barking deer, Jackal --- ## Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve ![Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve | UPSC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/07/9207d054-5e99-4b26-b8c8-424994497a07/content/images/2024/04/image-6.png) **Why in the news?**Petition filed in Madras high court to restrict entry of outsiders in the reserve. ### About - It is part of the interstate **Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve** in Kerala and TN. - It is the first Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu and consists of the Kanyakumari Wildlife sanctuary and the Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary. - It is also known as the river sanctuary with 14 rivers originating from it like Thamirabarani river. ### Flora & Fauna - Flora includes **dry thorn forest**, **dry deciduous**, **moist deciduous** and **wet evergreen forests** depending on the altitude. - Fauna includes **Nilgiri Tahr**, **Nilgiri Pipit**, **Lion Tailed Macaque**, **Blue Winged Parakeet** etc. ![Nilgiri Tahr | UPSC ](https://spicetreemunnar.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Nilgiri-tahr-2.jpg) ![Lion Tailed Macaques ](https://images.news18.com/ibnlive/uploads/2021/09/lion-tailed-macaus-16306633284x3.jpg?impolicy=website&width=640&height=480) ![Malabar Parakeet (Blue-winged Parakeet) | UPSC ](https://cdn.download.ams.birds.cornell.edu/api/v1/asset/147508641/1800) Nilgiri Tahr, Lion Tailed Macaque, Blue Winged Parakeet ## Dampa Tiger Reserve ![Dampa Tiger Reserve | UPSC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/07/9207d054-5e99-4b26-b8c8-424994497a07/content/images/2024/04/393189969_1069068581118360_4471037383342619361_n-1-1.jpg) **Why in the news?** \- A new species of toad named **Bufoides bhupathyi** was found in Mizoram. ### About - The Dampa Tiger Reserve is located in Lushai Hills of Mizoram. - It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1994 under Project Tiger. - Project Tiger was started on 1st April 1973 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. - It is the only tiger reserve in India with **zero tigers** as per the 2018 and 2022 census. - The 62 km fence and patrol road along the Bangladesh boundary near has hindered the free movement of Tigers. ### Flora & Fauna - Rare flora found include rare ginger species **Globba spathulata**. - Fauna include **sloth bear**, **barking deer**, **leopard**, **hoolock** **gibbon**, **rhesus** **macaque** etc. ![Bufoides bhupathyi from Mizoram, India | Dampa Tiger Reserve | UPSC](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlHIKZmzweKH1RD6DdKnw4FMF4xxMp9dRfXG4dTXz5xPSDyIj4zIbrVqx0_M2i11APO3H3skdfpaHCi5nJSgcIieLBBslcD8td2e-D5rW1WsVY-tXhC0iUeeExHl-sO-MrOuVhyphenhyphenxdOuqXacAA6iB2rDanHruHH7eJcwXtkYJh53-35KjEXkCIfBHzb4E0/s715/Bufoides_bhupathyi-novataxa_2023-Naveen_Tapley_Chandramouli_Jervis__@BenjaminTapley5.jpg) ![Rhesus macaque | Dampa Tiger Reserve | UPSC](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Rhesus_macaque_%28Macaca_mulatta_mulatta%29%2C_male%2C_Gokarna.jpg) ![Globba spathulata | Dampa Tiger Reserve | UPSC](https://efloraofindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Globba%20spathulata.JPG) Bufoides Bhupathyi, Rhesus macaque, Globba spathulata ## Sign up for UPSCprep.com Simplify your UPSC journey Subscribe Email sent! 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