Why in news
The Indian rock python (Python molurus), once common across Tamil Nadu, is now thriving in the Moyar Valley, despite being classified as "near threatened."
Researchers have observed an increase in their population in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR), indicating the importance of these areas in conserving the species.
Indian Rock Python
It is a large, nonvenomous python species.
It is known by the common names Black-tailed python and Asian rock python.
Indian pythons are usually whitish or yellowish in color with the blotched patterns varying from tan to dark brown shades. This varies with terrain and habitat.
Specimens from the hill forests of the Western Ghats and Assam are darker, while those from the Deccan Plateau and the Eastern Ghats are usually lighter.
They live in a wide range of habitats, including grasslands and savannas, swamps, marshes, rocky foothills, woodlands, open forests, and river valleys
Indian pythons are found in India, southern Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and probably in the north of Myanmar.
They are nocturnal and mainly terrestrial creatures.
However, they are also very good climbers and can often be seen hanging on branches of trees.
Indian pythons are excellent swimmers.
Conservation Status
IUCN: Near Threatened
CITES: Appendix II
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
Moyar Valley
It extends from Gudalur through the core area of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu.
This entire stretch is a wildlife haven and important biome in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
It is sheltering several vital species like tiger and elephant and the critically endangered Gyps vulture.
It is the only region in peninsular India where you have the biggest nesting colony of Gyps vultures in the wild.
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu state at the tri-junction of three states, viz, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
It is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1st Biosphere Reserve in India) along with
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the West, Bandipur National Park (Karnataka) in the North, Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley in the South.
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
It is a protected area and tiger reserve in the Eastern Ghats in the Erode District of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, the Gateway to Eastern Ghats, is a significant ecosystem and a wildlife corridor in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve between the Western Ghats and the rest of the Eastern Ghats
These forests are home to indigenous tribal people belonging largely to the Irula tribe (also known as the Urali) and Soliga communities.
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