The big cat is doing well in the large core zone of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve in spite of the considerable human presence in its vicinity. A trek in the reserve offers an abundance of animal signs and sightings.
The lush green Thengumarahada village on the bank of the Moyar river in the Nilgiris Eastern Slopes range, as seen from the top of the northern ridge. ▲
The man-eating leopard of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, camera trap photograph. ▲
The man-eating leopard of the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, camera trap photograph. ▲
A view of the Germalum range, which looks much like the Western Ghats. ▲
An ideal chowsingha habitat in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve. ▲
Zizyphus mauritiana, the Indian plum tree. This one, at least 300 years old, with a girth measuring 363 centimetres, is pehaps the largest in south India. ▲
A male tiger in Dhimbam. ▲
Female tiger in the Moyar valley. ▲
Female tiger, Moyar valley. ▲
Female tiger, Moyar valley. According to I. Anwarruddin, Field Director, Sathyamangalam reserve, there are around 50 tigers in the reserve. ▲
The Moyar valley, where it is most likely that once the cheetah hunted the blackbuck. ▲
Cassia spectabilis, a problem species all through the moist areas of the lower Nilgiris. ▲
Prickly pear (Opuntia dillenii) and mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), the invasive plant species which reduce the quality of the blackbuck and chital habitat. ▲
The brown male blackbuck in the Moyar valley. ▲
Male chowsingha. Note the absence of the anterior pair of horns. The south Indian species is known to have only the well-developed posterior horns. ▲
The reintroduction of the chinkara will enhance the faunal diversity in the Sathyamangalam landscape. ▲
Chital doe and a sub-adult, Moyar valley. ▲
The Mysore Zoo accommodates 60 nilgai. To reintroduce the animal in the Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve, disease-free nilgai should be brought from the zoo. ▲
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