Source: TH
Context: The residents of Pampa Valley and Angel Valley in Kerala’s Erumely panchayat are facing challenges due to their proximity to the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) and recent buffer zone demarcations.
Places in News:
- Pampa Valley & Angel Valley:
- Situated near the Periyar Tiger Reserve; residents face wildlife threats and legal issues over buffer zone designation.
- Known for its historical ties to the “Grow More Food” campaign of 1947-48, which supported post-war veterans.
- Mookenpetty Causeway: A bridge over the Azhutha River serving as a boundary between populated agricultural areas and PTR wilderness, marking a symbolic divide between local communities and protected forest areas.
About Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR):
- Location: Situated in the Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts of Kerala.
- Formation: Established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1950 and later declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. Named after the Periyar River, which originates within the reserve.
- Drainage: Major rivers flowing through the reserve are the Periyar and Mullayar.
- Unique species: Hosts medicinal plants like Syzygium periyarensis, Habenaria periyarensis (an orchid), and Mucuna pruriense thekkadiensis.
- Indigenous communities: Home to six tribal communities including the Mannans, Paliyans, Malayarayans, Mala Pandarams, Uralis, and Ulladans, who live within the reserve.
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