Why in news?

An 18-member herd of all female elephants from the forests of Gudiyattam and Pernambattu of Tamil Nadu are currently on the prowl in the Koundinya wildlife sanctuary zone in Chittoor district, apparently “in search of mates”.

Highlights

• It’s a unique phenomenon to see such a large female herd crossing into the sanctuary.
• The herd, with its habitat stretching from Gudiyattam to Mudumalai and Annamalai Hills of the Western Ghats, crossed into Chittoor district

About Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is a wildlife sanctuary and an elephant reserve situated in Andhra Pradesh, India.
• It is the only sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh with a population of Asian elephants, which migrated after 200 years from neighbouring regions
• Vegetation : covered by southern tropical dry deciduous and thorn forests
• A corridor for elephants is being planned between Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary and Sri Venkateswara National Park under Project Elephant.
• Nearest city: Chittoor
• Geography: Between Kolar Plateau ends and slopes down into the plains of Tamil Nadu

      River : small ponds, tanks and the Kaindinya and Kaigal tributaries of Palar River.