Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve

 

·       The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve established in 2001.

·       It is located in the southern-most end of the Western Ghats and includes 3,500 km2 of which 1828 km2 is in Kerala and 1672 km2 is in Tamil Nadu.

·       This reserve is named after Agastya Mala peak that rises up to almost 1868 metres above sea level, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

·       It encompass the wildlife sanctuaries Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.

·       Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve became part of World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2016. It is also under UNESCO's world list of biosphere reserve

·       This biosphere reserve is also home to the Kanikaran, one of the oldest surviving ancient tribes in the world.

Flora in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve

·       Apart from inhibiting 2,000 varieties of medicinal plants and about 50 rare and endangered species, Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve includes the Indian Eco regions of South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, South Western Ghats montane rain forests and Shola.

·       It is home to about 400 Red Listed Plants and over 125 species of orchids and rare, endemic and threatened plant species. Almost one-fourth of India's total plant species are found here.

·       Arogyapacha, one such famous and rare medicinal plant is found here.

Fauna in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve

·       This Biosphere Reserve hosts about 79 species of mammals, 88 species of reptiles, 45 species of amphibians, 46 species of fishes and 337 species of birds. 

·       Some of the rare animals found here are Tiger, Ancient Elephant and Nilgiri Tahr.