Tiger Reserves in Maharashtra

Maharashtra is home to 5 tiger reserves that aimed at the conservation and protection of Bengal tigers.

Table of Contents

Bor Tiger Reserve

Location: Wardha district, Maharashtra, India.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Bor Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1970 under the Wildlife Protection Act, India.
Tiger Reserve: Upgraded to Bor Tiger Reserve in 2014.
Status: 6th tiger reserve of Maharashtra and 47th tiger reserve of India.
Area: 138 sq km (includes Bor Wildlife Sanctuary, New Bor Wildlife Sanctuary, and an additional 16 sq km area).
Special Feature: Bor Tiger Reserve is the smallest tiger reserve in India.
River: Bor River.
Lake: Bor Dam, also known as Bor Tiger Lake.
Plants: Teak, Ain, Tendu.
Animals: Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Dhole, Gaur, Sambar Deer, White-rumped Vulture.

Location: Amravati district, Maharashtra, India; Vidarbha region.
Naming: Named after the Melghat Hills, part of the Satpura Mountain Range.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Melghat Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1973.
Tiger Reserve: Declared in 1974 under Project Tiger.
Area: 2768.52 sq km (Core/Critical: 1500.49 sq km; Buffer/Peripheral: 1268.03 sq km).
Hills: Gawilgarh Hill; Gawilgarh Fort located on this hill.
River: Tapti, Sipna, Dolar, Khandu, Khapra, Gadga.
Tribe: Korku, Gond, Bhil.
Plants: Bija, Haldu, Saja, Dhawda, Moha, Tendu, Achar, Amla, Behada, Bhilwa, Bor.
Animals: Tiger, Panther, Hyena, Wild Do, Sloth Bear, Sambar, Chital, Gaur, Barking Deer.

Location: Bhandara and Gondia districts, Maharashtra, India.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Established in 1975 by merging Navegaon Wildlife Sanctuary and Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary.
Tiger Reserve: Declared in 2013.
Status: 46th Tiger Reserve of India; 5th Tiger Reserve of Maharashtra.
Area: 653.67 sq km.
Hills: Zenda Pahad, highest point; elevation about 702 m above sea level.
Lake: Navegaon Lake; Nagzira Lake.
Plants: Saja, Dhawada, Indian Kino Tree, Tendu, Amaltas, Teak, Silk Cotton Tree, Haldu, Arjuna, Harad.
Animals: Tiger, Panther, Small Indian Civet, Dhole, Indian Star Tortoise.
Wildlife Note: Black Panther sighted recently in the reserve.

Location: Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Ratnagiri districts, Maharashtra, India.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary established in 1985.
National Park: Chandoli National Park created in 2004.
Tiger Reserve: Formed in 2008 by merging Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary and Chandoli National Park.
Area: 1165.56 sq km (Core: 600.12 sq km; Buffer: 565.45 sq km).
Hills: Sahyadri mountain range of the Western Ghats.
Sadas: Barren rocky and lateritic plateaus locally known as “Sadas”.
River: Warna River.
Lake: Chandoli Dam.
Plants: North Western Ghats Moist Deciduous Forests; Montane Rain Forests; Western Montane Subtropical Hill Forests; West Coast Semi Evergreen Forests; Southern Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests.
Vegetation Note: Only tiger reserve with abundant climax and near-climax vegetation.
Animals: Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Dhole, Gaur, Sambar.
Faunal Highlight: Famous for Monitor Lizard (Varanus bengalensis).

Location: Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, India.
National Park: Tadoba National Park declared in 1955.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary formed in 1986.
Tiger Reserve: Tadoba National Park and Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary merged in 1993; officially notified as a tiger reserve in 1995 under the Wildlife Protection Act of India.
Area: 1727.17 sq km (Core/Critical: 625.40 sq km; Buffer/Peripheral: 1101.77 sq km).
Hills: Chimur Hills, Moharli Hills, Kolsa Hills.
River: Andhari River.
Lake: Tadoba Lake, Kolsa Lake, Erai Reservoir.
Tribe: Gond Tribe, Kolam Tribe, Andh Tribe.
Plants: Teak, Dhaoda, Haldu, Salai, Semal.
Animals: Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Dhole, Striped Hyena, Sambar, Indian Star Tortoise.