About Satpura Tiger Reserve:
- It is located in the Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh.
- It is located in the Satpura ranges of the Central Indian Landscape.
- It lies south of the river Narmada.
- Satpura, basically meaning “Seven Folds”, forms a watershed between the Narmada and Tapti Rivers.
- It is spread over an area of 2133 sq. km.
- The tiger reserve comprises three protected areas, Satpura National Park, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary, and Pachmarhi Sanctuary.
- The terrain here is extremely rugged and consists of sandstone peaks, narrow gorges, ravines, and dense forests.
- The habitat is also an important testimony to human evolution, as it houses more than 50 rock shelters, which are almost 1,500 to 10,000 years old.
- Geological formations include the Deccan trap series, Gondwanas, and metamorphic rocks.
- Flora:
- The reserve is identified as a mixed deciduous forest with a variety of flora typical of the Central Indian Highlands.
- These include teak, bamboo, Indian ebony, various acacias, wild mango, Indian gooseberry, satinwood, etc.
- Twenty-six species of the Himalayan region and 42 species of the Nilgiri areas are found. Hence, STR is also known as the northern extremity of the Western Ghats.
- Fauna:
- It is home to a wide range of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, sloth bears, Indian gaurs (bison), and sambar deer.
- The reserve is also home to a diverse range of bird species, including the Indian peafowl, the crested serpent eagle, and several species of vultures.
