State

Maharashtra

History

Altitude (above M.S.L.)

284 m

Tadoba National Park was established in 1955 and the adjoining Andheri Wildlife Sanctuary was declared in 1986. This area was added to the Project Tiger Network in 1993-94.

Area

Total

575.8 km²

Core

218.8 km²

Buffer

357.0 km²

Flora and Fauna

Tadoba-Andheri supports a pristine and unique ecosystem. It has a rich biodiversity and contains one of the best remaining forests in India. It is prime habitat for tigers. An estimated 42 tigers are found in the reserve.

Temperature

3°C - 48°C

Rainfall (per annum)

1175 mm

Seasons

Winter

Oct - Jan

Summer

Feb - Jun

Monsoon

Jul - Sep

Fauna

Tiger, leopard, sloth bear, rusty spotted cat, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, mouse deer, four-horned antilope, wild dog, wild boar, flying squirrel, ratel, etc.

Forest Types

Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest

Funds

Delayed

Management Objectives

Staff

Understaffed

Protection is the most important management priority. Young tribal men from the 6 villages within the reserve are used for patrols and to help stop illegal activity. This is gone as a three month revolving scheme, to both heighten a sense of responsibility towards the reserve and to spread public awareness.

Problems

As in most reserves, grazing is also a problem at Tadoba-Andheri. Tigers frequently kill livestock enraging the villagers. Poaching occurs occasionally and fire is frequent, in 1994 for example, 16.5% of the reserve burned, and the year before 109 fire incidences were recorded.

External Influences (1991 census)

Villages

59

Human population

41,750

Livestock numbers

41,820