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Which one among the following is the largest tiger reserve of India in terms of area of the core/critical tiger habitat?
Explanation
Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR), located in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is the largest tiger reserve in India in terms of core/critical tiger habitat area [2]. The reserve is situated in the Nallamala hill ranges and spans approximately 5,937 sq. km in total area [1]. Specifically, its core or critical tiger habitat (CTH) covers approximately 3,721 sq. km to 3,728 sq. km, making it the largest such designated zone in the country [1]. In comparison, other reserves like Manas, Pakke, and Periyar have significantly smaller core areas. For instance, the total area of Nagarjunasagar Srisailam is cited as 3,296.31 sq. km in some records, yet it consistently remains the largest by area among the 50+ tiger reserves in India [3]. This reserve is a vital biodiversity hotspot supporting tropical dry deciduous forests and diverse endangered fauna [1].
Sources
- [1] https://ntca.gov.in/assets/uploads/briefnote/nstr.pdf
- [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Popular National Parks of India > p. 46
- [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_reserves_of_India