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Introduction

Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is located at the strategic confluence of the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. It shares its eastern boundary with Erode Forest Division, its north-western boundary with MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary (erstwhile Kollegal Forest Division) and northern boundary with Biligiri Rangasamy Tiger Reserve. Nilgiri North and Coimbatore divisions are on the southern side, separated by the perennial River Moyar, which runs along the Moyar gorge.

An area of 1,40,924 ha was declared Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve from the erstwhile wildlife sanctuary (videGovt. Order (Ms). No. 45 Environment & Forests Dept. Dated 15 March 2013). The core zone has an extent of 79,349.331 ha, and 61,491.21 ha has been declared the buffer zone of the tiger reserve. The buffer zone is interspersed within the core area, except the reserve forest patch in T.N. Palayam Range, which is completely under the buffer zone. There are 11 tribal revenue villages, seven tribal forest villages and 16 revenue non-tribal villages located within the core area. According to the Field Director, the total area of the tiger reserve is 1,40,840.541 ha whereas an area of 1,40,924 ha is mentioned in the TCP.

The TCP of Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu from 2019–20 to 2029–30 has been approved by NTCA (vide letter dated 18 February 2020).

Management Strengths:

Affinity towards wildlife amongst tribal people.
Large contiguous patches of forests and Great Moyar Valley provide landscape connectivity.
The buffer has the status of a wildlife sanctuary.
The landscape connectivity between rich tiger habitats offering genetic exchange and genetic contiguity and dispersal opportunities to tigers and other wild animals.
Rich species diversity across various diversified ecosystems.
Eco-system diversity within the tiger reserve and adjoining areas.
Perennial rivers and reservoirs/dams are present within the tiger reserve.
Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve has a rich conservation history.
Low incidences of human–wildlife conflicts (per unit area).
The tiger reserve has a rich cultural heritage

Management Weaknesses:

Anthropogenic activities within the tiger reserve and resource dependence on the fringes.
Linear intrusions like National Highway 209, state highways and other major roads are causing fragmentation of forests and restricting the movement of wild animals within the tiger reserve.
Wildlife-centric centric management infrastructure.
Land degradation and water scarcity within the tiger reserve are concerns.
Invasive weeds are affecting the habitat of the wildlife.
Lack of awareness among communities about protected area management aspects.
Religious activities cause disturbances.
Summer weather has long pinch period.
Inadequate database on past wildlife interactions with the habitats.
Poor eco-tourism infrastructure.
Waterspread area of Bhavanisagar Dam provides scope for illegal cultivation.
Vacancies in the cadre of frontline staff and lack of a homogenous blend of experienced and young staff are cause of concern for better protection and management of Tiger Reserve.
Vacancy in the cadre of Field Director. The present Field Director is holding the additional charge of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve along with the original charge of Anamalai Tiger Reserve. Both the posts are important and full of problems and need the constant presence of FD in the tiger reserve.
Lack of database on wildlife dynamics, flora and human dimensions.
Presence of larger number of enclave villages.
NTFP collection and encroachment are other challenges within the tiger reserve.

Immediate Actionable Points:

The 34 hamlets/villages/settlements located within the core area need to be relocated, for which necessary action should be initiated.
There are certain encroachments in the core area that are being processed under the Forest Rights Act 1996. The management should take steps to make the core area inviolate.
There are certain discrepancies in the TCP about the extent of the core and buffer and total area of the tiger reserve as well as about the number of villages/settlements within the core area. The area and number are varying from one chapter to another chapter of the plan. Further, the plan mostly refers to the number of tribal settlements and not the other villages located within the core boundary. This should be taken care of during the mid-term plan review.
Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve was constituted during 2013. The Government of Tamil Nadu and NTCA should provide necessary resources for development of infrastructure and manpower and improvement of the habitat.
The electric line passing through the core area need to be taken underground or insulated for the safety of the wild animals. The wild animal casualty, especially elephants, is heavy.
Traffic movements on NH 209, passing through the core area needs to be stopped as an alternative road is availableor flyovers and underpasses may be provided for wild animals not only on the national highway but also on other roads. The Hon’ble High Court Madras has also issued directions regarding this.
Since there is constant threat of poaching and smuggling which mostly takes place during night hours, patrolling during the night needs to be strengthened and organised as is being done during the daytime.
The state government should review its policy of transferring the frontline staff every 3 years. The period of 3 years is too a small period to contribute significantly. By the time the staff are acquainted with the terrain, they are transferred. The tiger reserve is thus deprived of their experience and knowledge and exposed to a new set of staff with little knowledge about the reserve.
Raising of various commercial crops like banana and areca nut within the enclaved villages by absentee landlords needs to be discouraged and regulated. In these farm houses the landlords are running tourist lodges and home stays.
Removing weeds like Lantana, Eupatorium and Senna spp. needs to be taken up on priority for improving the habitat of wild animals. Further, the removal of Senna spectabilis should be closely monitored at least for 5 years, and the findings should be properly documented.
The germination of the grass Cenchrus ciliaris near the bank of the Moyar River in Peerkadam Beat under Bhawani Sagar Range should be protected from deer grazing by fencing using uprooted thorny Prosopis trees/shrubs to ensure that the grasses quickly take over and suppress the possible regermination of Prosopis sp.
The eco-tourism activities need to be started immediately, especially day tourism, as there is poor infrastructure for promoting eco-tourism. This will help create awareness among the local people, which will subsequently contribute to the protection and development of the tiger Reserve.
The minimum number of APCs are to be maintained, and three more anti-poaching camps need to be established for ensuring the protection of the TR.
The existing provision of 70 litres of POL per month for protection purposes is meagre. It needs to be enhanced to a minimum of 200 litres per month for effective movement of the staff and APC workers for protection work.
There is a severe shortage of uniformed frontline staff. Vacancies at the level of FG and Forester need to be filled up on priority.
The existing anti-poaching camps need to be provided with uniform minimum facilities like drinking water, utensils, cots, first-aid kits, torches and cells and mosquito nets.
The field staff of Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve are not getting a hill allowance although the average altitude of the TR is more thean 700 m. They feel discriminated as other TRs of the state with lower altitudes are getting hill allowances. The state government may kindly consider the issue and sanction the hill allowance as applicable.
The Government of India should take special care for timely release of CSP funds under Project Tiger so that grassroots workers like watchers get their wages on time and the management is able to execute all the planned work in time. For the last 3 years, the TR has not got second instalment of the sanctioned funds.
The veterinary unit at Karachikorai is well established with an experienced doctor and support staff. The unit needs a boundary wall all around the campus, an OT with the required implements, a paddock with a squeeze cage, a vehicle for carrying instruments an a dedicated vehicle for the veterinary doctor, who has to move not only in Satyamangalam TR but also in other TRs of the state. NTCA and the Government of Tamil Nadu to provide the necessary support to make the unit fully functional.
One Field Director needs to be posted immediately exclusively for Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve for providing leadership and guidance to the field staff and supervising the work of this tiger reserve on a regular basis.

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Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

Introduction

Management Strengths:

Management Weaknesses:

Immediate Actionable Points:

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