UPSC Articles
Sariska Tiger Reserve
Part of: Prelims and GS III – Environment
Context: Massive fire broke out at Sariska Tiger Reserve recently.
About Sariska Tiger Reserve
- It is located in Aravali hills and forms a part of the Alwar District of Rajasthan.
- The Reserve is immensely rich in flora and fauna, and is famous for Royal Bengal Tiger.
- The park has populations of leopards, Nilgai, Sambar, chital etc.
- It also shelters a large population of Indian peafowl, crested serpent eagles, sand grouse, golden backed woodpeckers, great Indian horned owls, tree pies, vultures,etc.
- Sariska was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and was declared the tiger reserve later in 1978, making it a part of India’s Project Tiger.
- Project Tiger is an ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change providing central assistance to the tiger States for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves.
- The Sanctuary houses ruined temples, forts, pavilions and a palace.
- Kankarwadi fort is located in the center of the Reserve and it is said that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh at this fort in struggle for succession to the throne.
- The Reserve also houses a famous temple of lord Hanuman at Pandupole related to Pandavas.
News Source: TH
