Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin?

1. Nagarhole National Park

2. Papikonda National Park

3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

The correct option is 1, 3 and 4 only.

To understand why Nagarhole National Park, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary are located in the Cauvery basin, while Papikonda National Park is not, we can analyze the geographical location and river basins of each protected area:

1. Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka):
Nagarhole National Park, also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park, is situated in the Kodagu and Mysore districts of Karnataka. The Kabini River, which is a major tributary of the Cauvery River, flows through the park. Therefore, Nagarhole National Park lies within the Cauvery basin.

2. Papikonda National Park (Andhra Pradesh):
Papikonda National Park is located in the East Godavari and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. The park lies in the basin of the Godavari River, as the Godavari River flows through the Papikonda hills. It is not associated with the Cauvery River basin, which lies much further south.

3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu):
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is located along the Western Ghats in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu. It acts as a significant corridor in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Moyar River, a tributary of the Bhavani River (which itself is a major tributary of the Cauvery River), flows through this reserve. Thus, it falls within the Cauvery basin.

4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala):
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kerala and is contiguous to the protected area network of Nagarhole and Bandipur of Karnataka, and Mudumalai of Tamil Nadu. The Kabini River (tributary of Cauvery) flows through the sanctuary. Therefore, it is part of the Cauvery basin.

By evaluating the drainage and location of these protected areas, we find that 1, 3, and 4 lie within the Cauvery basin, whereas 2 is located in the Godavari basin. This confirms that the correct choice is 1, 3 and 4 only.