Question 22 from UPSC CSE 2019 - Environment

Question

Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Neyyar, Peppara, and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve

Strategy: Identify the sanctuaries and reserves that form the core of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve, located in the southern Western Ghats and straddling Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Rule out protected areas from other regions.

Key Info: **Location and Designation**
Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is situated in the southernmost part of the Western Ghats, covering areas in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2016.

**Core Components**
The reserve includes several key protected areas:
- Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala): Known for its diverse fauna and proximity to the Neyyar Dam.
- Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala): Located near the Peppara Dam, it protects evergreen and semi-evergreen forest tracts.
- Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala): Renowned for its rich biodiversity, including many endemic species.
- Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu): One of the premier Tiger Reserves in southern India, housing endemic and endangered species including the Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri langur, and the Bengal tiger.

**Significance and Exclusions**
The reserve is significant for the Agastyamala peak (1868 m), a centre for plant diversity and an important pilgrimage site. It is recognized for its high degree of endemism in flora and fauna and forms part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Other protected areas mentioned in options, such as Mudumalai, Wayanad, and Silent Valley, are part of the broader Western Ghats but are not within the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve. Areas like Papikonda, Kawal, Sri Venkateswara, and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam are located in Andhra Pradesh or Telangana, far from the Agasthyamala region.

Answer

Option B: Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam, and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Silent Valley National Park

Answer

Option C: Kaundinya, Gundla Brahmeswaram, and Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Mukurthi National Park

Answer

Option D: Kawal and Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve