UPSC Express

About Bandipur National Park

• Bandipur National Park is located in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka.
• It constitutes of forest landscape comprising Nagarahole (Karnataka), Mudumalai and Sathyamangalam (Tamil Nadu) and Wayanad (Kerala).
• Bandipur constitutes an integral part of ‘Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve’ along with.
  • Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu
  • Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala
  • Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka
• Bandipur was established as a Tiger Reserve in 1974 after Project Tiger. As per NRCA data the tiger reserve is home to nearly 120 to 150 tigers.
• As a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, it is the largest habitat of wild elephants in South Asia.
• It is declared as Eco-Sensitize Zone under Environment Protection Rules, 1986.
• Forest Type
  • Mixture of dry deciduous forests, moist deciduous forests and shrublands. The wide range of habitats help support a diverse range of organisms.
• Natural inhabitants
  • Gaur, sambhar, chital, mouse deer, four-horned antelope, wild dogs, wild boar, jackal, sloth bear, panther, malabar squirrel, porcupines, jungle fowl.
• Other Facts
  • Kabini river flows in the northern part of the park

In Brief: Forest Fires

• Forest fires can occur because of both natural and man-made causes.
• Man-made causes contribute to more than 90% of forest fires in India.

Manmade causes behind forest fires

• Villagers set the forests on fire in the hope of fresh grass.
• Increase in temperature causes inflammable materials in the forests get ignited.
• People’s negligence, a lit cigarette or bidi.
• Attempts to convert forest land into agricultural land.
• Fire caused by poachers and timber smugglers.
• Burning of waste in illegal dumps.
• Shifting cultivation practice by the locals
• Tourist activities like camp-fire etc.

Impact of Forest Fires

• Loss of life.
• They change wildlife habitats.
• Fire changes the proportion, arrangement and characteristic of habitats across the landscape.
• Temporary loss of food and shelter causes displacement of territorial birds and mammals, upsetting the ecological balance.

Way Forward

• Need for post-fire management.
• Better monitoring of reserve forest areas
• Soil and moisture conservation needs to be carried out.
• Recruit more people during the forest fire season.