Why in news
The Forest Department and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam at Ahobilam have imposed certain restrictions on visitors arriving at the shrine, which is composed of nine different temples, situated in the Nallamala forest.
The forest area covers the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, which was declared a tiger reserve in 1983, extending up to 3,727.82 sq km., including the core and buffer areas.
Why in news
The restrictions have been imposed in the wake of the intense heat wave that can impact the movement of wild animals.
Overnight stay in the region has been prohibited given the likelihood of man-animal conflict.
The Ahobilam National Tiger Conservation Authority, constituted as per the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, by the Ministry of Forests, Environment and Climate Change, oversees the rare flora and fauna specific to the region.
Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) in Andhra Pradesh is the largest tiger reserve in India.
It was notified in the year of 1978 and came under the protection of Project Tiger in 1983.
The multipurpose reservoirs- Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar are located in the reserve.
The Krishna river cuts the basin of this reserve.
Two wildlife Sanctuaries, namely Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary (GBM), constitute the Tiger Reserve.
Fauna: It is home to a vast variety of wild animals. In addition to the Bengal Tiger, which is the apex predator, many other species like leopard, rusty-spotted cat, pangolin, Mugger Crocodiles, Indian Rock Python, and innumerable varieties of birds are found here.
Flora: The habitat has several endemics like Andrographis nallamalayana, Eriolaena lushingtonii, Crotalaria madurensis Var, Dicliptera beddomei and Premna hamiltonii.
The ancient temples at Srisailam of Lord Mallikarjuna and his consort goddess Bhramaramba, contain one of the twelve sacred Shaiva Jyotirlingas and one of the eighteen Maha Shakthi peethas in India.
This area contains ruins of Nagarjuna Viswa Vidyalayam. The site was once the location of many Buddhist universities and monasteries.
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