About Periyar Tiger Reserve:
- Location: It is located in the Western Ghats of Kerala.
- It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978.
- It gets its name from the River Periyar which has its origin deep inside the reserve.
- Two main rivers, Pamba and Periyar drain the reserve.
- It is home to many tribal communities including the Mannans and the Palians.
- Terrain: Hilly and undulating with a maximum altitude of 2016 m.
- Vegetation: It consists of tropical evergreen, semi- evergreen and moist deciduous
- Flora:
- There are more than 171 species of grasses.
- Important flora includes teak, mangoes, rosewood, jamun, jacarandas, terminalias, tamarind, royal ponciana, bamboos etc.
- Fauna:
- Includes Elephants, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Gaur, Mouse Deer, Dole or Barking Deer, Indian Wild Dog and Tiger.
- The major four species of primates are also found at Periyar - the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Gee's Golden Langur, Common Langur and Bonnet Macaque.
- It Is also being considered as the habitat of the elusive Nilgiri Tahr.
