MEE TR Web Portal

Introduction

This tiger reserve is known as Biligiri Ranganathaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve.This unique bio-geographical entity, situated as the ecological bridge connecting the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats in south India, is located between latitudes 11° 43′ N and 12° 09′ N and between longitudes 77° 01′ and 77° 15′ E. The entire tiger reserve lies in the southernmost district of Karnataka, called Chamarajanagara. The protected area and its adjoining forest areas form the entire forest areas of Chamarajanagar Taluk and Yelandur Taluk and parts of the forest of Kollegal and Hanur taluks. The tiger reserve spreads over 574.82 km2, the forested area of 359.10 km2 being the core and the remaining 215.72 km2 being the buffer zone. There is a 198 km boundary surrounded by agricultural lands. There is a tribal community living within the tiger reserve known as the Soliga tribe. There are 57 tribal settlements called podus with 3823 tribal families. It is estimated that the BRT has about 800 species of higher plant, representing 445 genera and 123 families. There are 115 tree species, 105 shrubs, 445 herbs and 101 climbers and lianas. The area is endowed with a rich diversity and abundance of animal life. There are over 40 species of larger mammal, over 250 species of bird, 30 species of reptile, 15 species of amphibian and 10 species of fish. These animals appear in various schedules of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 indicating their endangered status.

Management Strengths:

The BRT landscape has a high tiger density.
Monitoring tiger source populations in BRT through regular Phase-IV monitoring using M-StrIPES.
There are 26 permanent anti-poaching camps at selected strategic locations all over the tiger reserve, providing the strong base for protection in the reserve.
All the camps have been equipped with the basic amenities for permanent camping of Watchers and Guards, apart from the equipment required to ensure protection and communication.
Check posts are located at entry and exit points of the reserve and BR Hills enclosure, and all the vehicles passing through these check posts are recorded and checked for any illegal possessions.
Foot and vehicle patrolling is regularly done, and elephant patrolling is being planned.
Effective management of man–elephant conflict.
Prompt ex-gratia payments for depredation due to wild animals.
Ecodevelopment in buffer areas to enlist local public support, including supplying LPG connections, reducing the resource dependence.
Banning vehicle movements on roads entering the tiger reserve between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM.
Regulation of tourism as per the guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
Intelligence-based enforcement and anti-poaching operations.
Rapid Response Team along with vehicle in place for tiger rescue operations.
Rescue squad of elephants along with rescue vehicle for tiger rescue operations in place.
Compensation in case of human casualty and cattle kill is paid regularly.
Necessary accessories cage, net, tranquilizing gun, trained veterinarian and team are in place for rescue operations.
Demarcation of all forest areas on the ground has already been completed.
The FRA settlements and the settled lands given to beneficiaries have been recorded in the form of coordinates.
The boundaries are regularly checked by the staff.
Habitat management with respect to fodder availability is practised every year, and waterhole management (desilting of waterholes) for elephants and other animals is undertaken every year. As fire protection measures and view lines, lantana is removed, providing fodder and yarding place for ungulates.
During 2019–20 to 2021–22, uprooting of Lantana and grassland management works were carried out in 466.07 ha.
Desilting of tanks and construction of tanks, check-dams and other soil and water conservation structures was taken up periodically. Areas with tall grass were burnt in patches for obtaining fresh and palatable grass.
Use of secret services (informants) .
Fire-monitoring by erecting watch towers, using a wireless network, using mobiles, etc.
The TR is adequately provided with personnel, who are appropriately supported and explicitly allocated (list of staff attached).
Final eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) notification is done.

Management Weaknesses:

BRT Tiger Reserve is surrounded by more than 100 fringe villages and agriculture fields which grow attractive crops like banana, sugarcane, tomato and maize hence human–elephant conflicts are quite common.
Enclosures within the core area of the tiger reserve.
Threat to protection because of interstate border.
Frontline staff vacancy at Forest Watcher level.
The reserve has a sanctioned but vacant post of Second Division Surveyor. Having a surveyor can help in conducting regular field surveys and checking boundary lines.
The elephant corridors were broken by human settlements and grantis, and the process of acquiring these lands in corridors is in progress.
The ESZ Master Plan needs to be prepared.

Immediate Actionable Points:

Forest Fire

There is a need to hire fire watchers from the tribal people living in the podus inside the tiger reserve.
Early burning of the roadverges along the public roads and inside the tourism zone is required.
Re-clearing of fire lines in the high fire occurrence areas on priority, prior to the onset of the fire season, should be done.
The assistance of the local people should be obtained in convincing the villagers to refrain from setting fire to the forest.
Having an incentive scheme for the fringe villages for the non-occurrence of fires in their neighbouring forest areas is very much needed.
During the summer season, fire brigades are to be stationed at vulnerable locations every year.

Mitigation measures to prevent elephants straying into human habitation.

Excavation of elephant-proof trenches (EPTs)
Upgrading/restoring EPTs.
Construction of rubble stone masonry walls.
Construction of size stone masonry walls/pillars.
Erection and maintenance of double-line tentacle solar power fence.
Erection of barricades using railway rails.

Involvement of local people and other stakeholders

Participation in protection activities.
Involvement in anti-depredation activities and fire protection works.
Partner in eco-tourism activities.
Contribution to development of tiger reserve by CSR funds.
Regulation of tourist flow.
Staff meetings, workshops, etc.
Fire planning exercise for frontline staff.
Stakeholders’ meeting with JLR.

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Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve

Introduction

Management Strengths:

Management Weaknesses:

Immediate Actionable Points:

Forest Fire

Mitigation measures to prevent elephants straying into human habitation.

Involvement of local people and other stakeholders

Download Section: