Context:
During a bird survey at Corbett Tiger Reserve in Nainital, researchers identified two critically endangered bird species namely white-rumped vulture and red-headed vulture.
About Corbett Tiger Reserve:
- Location – Uttarakhand.
- Location of Project Tiger’s launch in 1973.
- Named after Jim Corbett, who played a key role in its establishment.
- Core area – Corbett National Park.
- Buffer zone – Reserve forests and Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Encompasses mountainous terrain in Shivalik and Outer Himalaya.
- Major rivers –Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain, and Kosi.
- Spans 500 sq. km, housing 230 tigers with world’s highest tiger density.
Click here to read more about Tiger
Vulture Species in India:
- Vital role as nature’s garbage collectors and environmental cleaners.
- Important for controlling wildlife diseases.
- India hosts 9 vulture species: Oriental white-backed, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Himalayan, Red-headed, Egyptian, Bearded, Cinereous, Eurasian Griffon.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat”?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) Corbett
(b) Ranthambore
(c) Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam
(d) Sundarbans
