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Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
International biosphere reserve of India / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve in the Nilgiri Mountains of the Western Ghats in South India. It is the largest protected forest area in India, spreading across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.[1] It includes the protected areas Mudumalai National Park, Mukurthi National Park, Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu; Nagarhole National Park, Bandipur National Park, both in Karnataka; Silent Valley National Park, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, and Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.
Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve | |
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![]() Nilgiri Hills from the top of Doddabetta Peak | |
Location | South India |
Coordinates | 11°33′00″N 76°37′30″E |
Area | 5,520 km2 (2,130 sq mi) |
Established | 1986 |
Governing body | Tamilnadu forest department, Karnataka forest department, Kerala forest department, Project Tiger |
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![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f5/Logo_of_the_Nilgiri_Biosphere_Reserve.jpg)
An ecosystem of the hill ranges of Nilgiris and its surrounding environments covering a tract of over 5000 square kilometers was constituted as Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in September 1986 under Man and Biosphere Programme. Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve is India's first and foremost biosphere reserves with a heritage, rich in flora and fauna. Tribal groups such as the Badagas, Toda, Kotas, Irulla, Kurumba, Paniya, Adiyan, Edanadan Chettis, Allar, and Malayan are native to the reserve.[2]