Jumbo census in Seshachalam hills, Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary hints at sizeable presence

• Recently, Jumbo census in Seshachalam hills, Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary hints at sizeable presence.

Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in Palamner - Kuppam forest ranges of Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
• It is the only sanctuary in the whole state housing Asian elephants.
• This Sanctuary comes under Project elephant - a Country wide Elephant Conservation Project taken up by Government of India.
• River Kaigal and River Kaundinya flow through this sanctuary and is characterized by high hills, deep valleys.

Flora:

• Forest type: Southern tropical dry deciduous forest, with patches of thorn, scrub and grassy plains.
• Plants like Albizzia amara, Ficus glomerata, Zizyphus xylocarpus, Gymnosporia Montana, etc; make this a green panoramic place with a breathtaking floral diversity.

Fauna:

• Insects like Painted grasshopper, Plain tiger butterfly, Common grass yellow butterfly etc.
• Reptiles like Common cobra, Rat snake, Indian rock python, Forest calotes, Skinks, etc.
• Birds like Partidges, quails, storks, Cotton teal, etc; make this Sanctuary their domicile.
• Mammals like Indian Elephant, Panther, Sloth bear, Wild boar, Chowsingha, Nilgai, Hyena, Jackal, etc.

Prelims Take Away

• Locatrion Based Question
• Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary