Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

In News

• Recently, it has been observed that the Asian elephant has lost most of their optimal habitat in the Nilgiri Reserve.

About Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

• It is a Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hill ranges of Southern India. 
• It is the first biosphere in India.
• The reserve encompasses a total of 5,520 km² in the states of Karnataka (1,527 km²), Kerala (1,455 km²), and Tamil Nadu (2,537 km²).
• Biodiversity: The NBR is rich in biodiversity and has over 100 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles, 31 species of amphibians, 39 species of fish, 316 species of butterflies, and numerous other invertebrates.  
  • It is also home to around 3,300 plants and 175 orchid species of which 1,232 and 8 are endemic, respectively.
• It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 1, 2012.

Source: TH