<p><strong>Syllabus section: Environment and Ecology</strong></p>

<p><strong>Why in News?</strong><br />
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has approved the creation of the fifth tiger reserve in Tamil Nadu.</p>

<p><strong>About:</strong><br />
&bull; The tiger reserve will surround the Meghamalai and the Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuaries within it.<br />
&bull; The approval was given in the backdrop of the demand by the environmental activists.<br />
&bull; The activists were demanding the creation of a tiger reserve linking the two sanctuaries in the adjoining areas of Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala.<br />
&bull; They also demand to connect the tiger reserve with the Tirunelveli Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.<br />
&bull; The environmentalists seek to make a contiguous corridor for the tigers to move.<br />
&bull; The tiger reserve will spread to 1.48 lakh hectares of land comprising of the Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, and Tirunelveli Wildlife Sanctuary.</p>

<p><strong>Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuary</strong><br />
&bull; It is also known as the Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (GSWS).&nbsp;<br />
&bull; The sanctuary was established in the year 1988 with the objective of protecting the Near-threatened grizzled giant squirrel.&nbsp;<br />
&bull; It is bordered by the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the southwest.&nbsp;<br />
&bull; The sanctuary is also called one of the best-preserved forests lying south of the Palghat Gap.</p>

<p><strong>Source: The Hindu</strong><br />
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