Mahendragiri Hills

Why in news?

• The Odisha government has proposed a second biosphere reserve in the southern part of the state at Mahendragiri, a hill ecosystem having rich biodiversity.
• The 5,569-square kilometre Similipal Biosphere Reserve is Odisha’s first such reserve and was notified May 20, 1996.

About Mahendragiri Hills:

• Mahendragiri hill and its surrounding areas are recognized as a biodiversity hot spot due to numerous medicinal plants and other species that are found here.
• This is the second highest mountain peak of Odisha after Deomali in Koraput district.
• A haven for medicinal plants, Mahendragiri Hills, which is part of the Eastern Ghats, is home to over 600 flowering plants.
• The area of the proposed Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve is around 470,955 hectares and is spread over Gajapati and Ganjam districts in the Eastern Ghats.
• As per the survey, the core area could be spread over 42.54 km2 while the buffer zone will have an area of 1577.02 km2.
• The faunal diversity of the hills consists of 388 species of animals, including 27 species of mammals, 165 species of birds, 23 species of snakes, 15 species of amphibians, three species of turtles and 19 lizards.

Prelims Question

Mahendragiri hills are located in:
(a)Maharashtra
(b)Odisha
(c)Rajasthan
(d)Haryana

Answer to the Prelims Question