International Journal on Recent and Innovation Trends in Computing and Communication ISSN: 2321-8169 Volume: 5 Issue: 7 361 – 368 _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 361 IJRITCC | July 2017, Available @ http://www.ijritcc.org _______________________________________________________________________________________ Conservation of Fauna of Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve – An Overview Prof. D. Bharathi, Dr. B. Hemavathi *and Dr. A. Shobha Rani* Department of Sericulture, Sri PadmavatiMahilaVisvavidyalayam (Women’s University) Tirupati. Email: depurubharathi1960@gmail.com Mobile No: 9347335912 Abstract:- The Indian Government has established 18 Biosphere reserves in India which protect larger areas of natural habitat and often include one or more National parks. Seshachalam hills, the first Biosphere Reserve in Andhra Pradesh, is located in southern Eastern Ghats of Chittoor and Kadapa districts. It is the richest floristic hot spot harboring many endemic and rare plants. Five Gecko species were recorded in this reserve, out of that the Golden Gecko Calodactylodes aureus are rare and endemic species in the biosphere reserve.12 species of lizards and 22 species of snakes are found Seshachalam Biosphere. The protection of habitat is an important aspect in the conservation of such species. The biospheres are sites where protection is granted to the flora and fauna of the protected region. Each biosphere reserve is intended to fulfil 3 basic functions such as conservative, development and logistic functions. The Wildlife is a potential source of useful products of global interest. Wildlife is nature’s gift and its decline has an adverse effect on ecology and hence there is an urgent need to protect the Wildlife. An awareness should be developed among the general public about the proper management and the necessity of conservation of natural ecosystem and wild Communities of plants and animals they contain. To ensure this certain legal steps are to be taken up by the Government to regulate the exploitation of Wildlife. Keywords: Seshachalam Biosphere, Wildlife, Gecko, Ecosystem. __________________________________________________*****_________________________________________________ Introduction India has large geographical size and variety of climate and habitats. Wild animals constitute great national resources. Preservation and protection of wildlife is important from the ecological point of view. As per the UNESCO's Man and Biosphere program, the government of India has established the Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve on 20th September, 2010. The reserve is the first biosphere reserve in Andhra Pradesh and the 17th in India. By size, it is the 9th largest in India. Biosphere reserves: Biospheres are sites where protection is granted not only to the flora and fauna of the protected region,but also to the human communities who inhabit these regions, and their way of life. A biosphere reserve is an ecosystem with plants and animals of unusual scientific and natural interest. It is a label given by UNESCO to help protect the sites. The plan is to promote management, research and education in ecosystem conservation. This includes the 'sustainable use of natural resources'. The biospheres are sites where protection is granted to the flora and fauna of the protected region. Each biosphere reserve is intended to fulfil 3 basic functions such as conservative, development and logistic functions. Seven of the fifteen biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserve,based on the UNESCO man and the Biosphere programme(MAB) list. Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Nokrek National Park, PachmarhiBiosphere Reserve, Simlipal National Park and Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve, The Indian government has established 18 Biosphere Reserves, which protect larger areas of natural habitat than a National Park or wildlife Sanctuary, and often include one or more National Parks and or preserves, along buffer zones that are open to some economic uses. Biosphere Reserves of India Sl . N o Yea r Name State Type Key Fauna 1 198 6 Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka Western Ghats NilgiriTahr, Lion-tailed macaque 2 198 8 Nanda Devi Uttarakhan d Western Himalay as NA 3 198 8 Nokrek Meghalaya East Himalay as Red Panda 4 198 9 Gulf of Mannar Tamil Nadu Coasts Dugong or Sea Cow 5 198 9 Sundarbans West Bengal Gangetic Delta Royal Bengal Tiger 6 198 9 Manas Assam East Himalay as Golden Langur, Red Panda 7 198 9 Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve Andaman and Nicobar Islands Saltwater Crocodile