Context

• A new documentary, 'Nilgiris - A Shared Wilderness', has been released to raise awareness about India’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Nilgiris.

Key Highlights

• Producer: It has been produced by Rohini Nilekani
• Launched in: Chennai 
• Director: Sandesh Kadur
• Main Focus: this film explores the region’s unique biodiversity and the intricate relationship between its human and wildlife populations.

Nilgiris

• Highest Peak: Doddabetta, at 2,637 meters (8,652 feet)
• The Nilgiris, often referred to as the "Blue Mountains," is a captivating mountain range nestled in the Western Ghats of southern India.
• This region is spread across the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR):

• Location: Nilgiri Mountains of the Western Ghats.
• The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve falls under the biogeographic region of the Malabar rain forest.
• It encompasses parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.
• It was the first biosphere reserve in India, established in 1986.
• Protected areas: The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Wyanaad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park, and Silent Valley
• Vegetation: Tropical evergreen forests, Montane sholas and grasslands, semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous forests, dry deciduous forests, and thorn forests. 
• Climate: The annual rainfall of the reserve ranges from 500 mm to 7000 mm, with temperatures ranging from 0°C during the winter to 41°C during the summer.
• Flora: Some of the plants entirely restricted to the NBR include species of Adenoon, Calacanthus, Baeolepis, Frerea, Jarodina, Wagatea, Poeciloneuron, etc.
• Fauna: largest known population of two endangered animal species, namely the Nilgiri Tahr and the Lion-tailed macaque and the largest South Indian population of elephant, tiger, gaur, sambar, and chital are found here.