Why in the news?

  • Palamau Tiger Reserve witnessed rapid decline of Guar population.

Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR)

  • Location: Jharkhand
  • Associated Protected Region: Part of Betla National Park.
  • Terrain: Undulating with valleys, hills, and plains.
  • Rivers: North Koyal, Auranga, and Burha (only perennial river).
  • Climate: Drought-prone zone.
  • Fact:
    • One of the first 9 tiger reserves established under Project Tiger (1973).
    • First reserve in the world to conduct a tiger census by pugmark method in 1932
  • Vegetation type: Moist deciduous and dry deciduous forests.
  • Fauna: Tiger, Asiatic Elephant, Leopard, Grey wolf, Wild dog, Gaur, Sloth

Indian Bison or Gaur

  • Location: Native to South and Southeast Asia
  • Fact: It is the tallest species of wild cattle found in India and largest extant bovine.
  • Habitat: Gaurs are primarily found in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests along with moist deciduous forests with open grasslands.
  • Conservation Status:
    • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
    • CITES: Appendix I
    • Wild Life Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
  • Threats Face by Guars
    • Food Scarcity
    • Poaching
    • Habitat Loss
    • Human-Animal Conflict