Previous Year Question
Which of the following are in Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve?
Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuaries and Silent Valley National Park
Kaundinya, Gundla Brahmeswaram and Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuaries and Mukurthi National Park
Kawal and Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuaries and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve extends across Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the southern part of the Western Ghats.
It is named after the Agasthyamalai or Agasthyarkoodam peak, an important biogeographical and cultural site of the region.
It includes the Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries of Kerala.
The Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu is also part of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.
The Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is located at the southern end of the Western Ghats and contains tropical evergreen forests, semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests and montane shola-grasslands.
This landscape is an important catchment for several rivers and streams, including the Thamirabarani, Karamana and Neyyar.
The Agasthyamalai region is known for its exceptionally high plant diversity, medicinal flora and numerous endemic species.
It supports the lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr, tiger, elephant and several endemic amphibians, reptiles and birds.
The Kani community living in this region is known for its traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and forest resources.
The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve was included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2016.
The protected areas in option (b) are mainly associated with the Nilgiri landscape. Mudumalai, Wayanad and Silent Valley are located within the wider landscape of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
Sathyamangalam is an important wildlife corridor connecting the Western and Eastern Ghats, but it is not part of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.
Option (c) is incorrect: Kaundinya, Gundla Brahmeswaram and Papikonda are associated with Andhra Pradesh and the Eastern Ghats, whereas Mukurthi National Park is situated in the Nilgiri region.
Option (d) is incorrect: Kawal is in Telangana, Sri Venkateswara is in Andhra Pradesh and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam is associated with the Nallamala landscape of the Eastern Ghats.
Therefore, the Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve are located in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.