Elephant Deaths in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

Why in News?

Recently, a group of elephants was found dead in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh, prompting a thorough investigation by wildlife officials and conservation teams.

Key Points

  • Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve:
    • Located in Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve spans an area rich in biodiversity and serves as one of India's premier tiger habitats.
    • Elephant Population:
      • Originally devoid of elephants, the reserve saw its first elephant herd migration from Chhattisgarh in 2018, marking the start of a permanent elephant population within the reserve.
      • The initial herd numbered around 15-20 elephants and has since been observed in both core and buffer areas of the reserve.
  • The elephants were located in Reserved Forest (RF) 384 and Protected Forest (PF) 183 A, in the Salakhaniya Beat of Khitauli and Pataur core ranges.

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR)

  • It is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh and is spread over the Vindhya hills.
  • In 1968, it was notified as a national park and in 1993 was declared a tiger reserve- under the Project Tiger Network at the neighbouring Panpatha Sanctuary.
  • It is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India as well as in the world.
  • The important prey species consists of chital, sambhar, barking deer, nilgai, chinkara, wild pig, chowsingha, langur and rhesus macaque.
    • Dependent upon them are the major predators like tiger, leopard, wild dog, wolf and jackal.