State

Andhra Pradesh

History

Altitude (above M.S.L)

100 - 917 m

Before India’s independence in 1947, the southern half of this reserve was controlled by the British whereas the northern half was the royal hunting grounds of the rulers of Hyderabad. The area was notified as Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Sanctuary in 1978 and renamed Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in 1992. It was declared a Tiger reserve in 1983.

Area

Total

3568.1 km²

Core

1200.0 km²

Buffer

2368.1km²

Flora and Fauna

This region receives rain from the south-west and the north-east monsoons, resulting in a long wet season. During this time wildlife is generally confined to the plateaus. During summer water is scarce therefore forcing the animals to move to the valleys. An estimated 39 tigers are found at Nagarjunasagar.

Temperature

16°C - 43°C

Rainfall (per annum)

1000 mm

Seasons

Winter

Nov - Feb

Summer

Mar - Jun

Monsoon

Jun -Nov

Fauna

Tiger, leopard, sloth bear, wild dog, jackal, spotted deer, mouse deer, black buck sambar, blue bull, chinkara, chousinga, wild boar, pangolin, mugger, python, cobra, etc.

Forest Types

Southern Tropical Dry Mixed Deciduous Forests, Hardwickia Forest, Southern Thorn Forests, Southern Euphorbia Scrubs

Funds

Insufficient & late

Management Objectives

Staff

Untrained & understaffed

Environmental protection is the main priority. Water and fire management, as well as habitat improvement are important activities

Problems

Extremists are active in the reserve. Poaching of animals is rare but timber smuggling is common. Trees are also felled for easier access to Adda leaves, which are used. to make leaf plates. 550 local families are dependent on this industry. Grazing is another problem in the reserve.

External Influences (1991 census)

Villages

200

Population

169,000

Livestock numbers

360,000