Why in news
A three-member team from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is inspecting the Thattekad Bird Sanctuary and the Angel Valley & Pamba Valley settlements in the Periyar Tiger Reserve this week.
The Kerala State government has requested the exclusion of human settlements from these protected areas, as residents face restrictions due to wildlife laws.
Angel Valley and Pamba Valley Settlements (Periyar Tiger Reserve)
Located in Kerala, near the Mookkenpetty causeway and Kanamala bridge, these settlements arose under the ‘Grow More Food’ initiative of 1947-48 (after World War II) for ex-servicemen and their descendants.
The Periyar Tiger Reserve is renowned for its biodiversity, including Bengal Tigers, Indian Elephants, and diverse flora and was recognized in 2022 as India’s best-managed tiger reserve.
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
Situated near Kothamangalam on the Periyar River and is home to 280+ bird species.
Established in 1983, it is named after Dr. Salim Ali (India's renowned ornithologist and bird conservationist), who deemed it the richest bird habitat in peninsular India.
Proposed changes include excluding 897.25 ha of inhabited land and adding 1,016.94 ha of forest from the Munnar Division.
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