Which of the following protected areas in Tamil Nadu is designated as a Biosphere Reserve and spans across the Nilgiri hills, encompassing moist deciduous forests, sholas, and serving as a critical habitat for the Nilgiri Tahr?

💡 Solution & Explanation

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was India's first biosphere reserve established in 1986, encompassing parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka within the Western Ghats. It protects rich biodiversity including endemic species like the Nilgiri Tahr and lion-tailed macaque across habitats ranging from tropical wet evergreen forests to montane shola-grasslands. The Gulf of Mannar protects marine ecosystems off the southeastern coast. Agasthyamalai is located in the southern extreme of the Western Ghats. Sathyamangalam links the Eastern and Western Ghats.