About Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR):
- Location: It is located in the Dhamtari District of Chhattisgarh.
- Udanti and Sitanadi, aretwo wildlife sanctuaries, combined together to form the reserve.
- It covers a total area of 1842.54 sq. km.
- It was declared a tiger reserve in the year 2008-09.
- Rivers:
- The Udanti River flows from west to east in the Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Sitanadi River originates from the middle of the Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
- There are a few perennial springs, including the famousDeodhara and Godene falls.
- Topography: The topography of the area is a broken mass of land traversed by innumerable hill ranges intercepted by strips of plains.
- Vegetation: Mixed vegetation is present in the reserve. Dry deciduous forests, tropical and sub-tropical vegetation are also observed here, especially in the area around streams and waterways.
- Flora:
- It contains various types of forest crops mixed with Sal Forest.
- The ground is covered with maze of grass, plants, bushes and saplings.
- Fauna:
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- All the representative faunal species of Central India are found in the reserve.
- The Asiatic Wild Buffalo is the key endangered species found in the core area.
- Apart from the tiger, other endangered and rare species are the Indian Wolf, Leopard, Sloth Bear and Mouse Deer.
