Blog

Meta Description

Explore Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve with this complete travel guide covering wildlife, best time to visit, tourism, conservation, history, and latest visitor updates.

Complete Article Outline

Introduction

H2 What Makes Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve Special?

H3 India’s largest tiger reserve

H3 Why this landscape matters for tiger conservation

H3 Who should visit the reserve

H2 Location and Geography

H3 Where the reserve is located

H3 Districts covered

H3 Nallamala Hills and the Eastern Ghats

H3 Krishna River and major reservoirs

Comparison Table

• Location overview
• Area
• States
• Districts
• Rivers
• Elevation

H2 History of Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

H3 Wildlife Sanctuary notification (1978)

H3 Tiger Reserve declaration (1983)

H3 Evolution of conservation management

H2 Habitat and Ecosystems

H3 Dry deciduous forests

H3 Bamboo and grassland habitats

H3 Valleys, plateaus and gorges

H3 Why habitat diversity supports wildlife

H2 Wildlife of Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

H3 Tigers

H3 Leopards

H3 Sloth bears

H3 Dholes

H3 Herbivores

H3 Birds

H3 Reptiles

H3 River wildlife

Wildlife Checklist Table

H2 Tiger and Leopard Population

H3 Current tiger estimates

H3 Leopard population highlights

H3 Why wildlife numbers change over time

H2 Best Time to Visit

H3 Winter

H3 Summer

H3 Monsoon

Month-by-Month Comparison Table

H2 Tourism and Visitor Experience

H3 Tourist access

H3 Core vs Buffer areas

H3 Seasonal closures

H3 Srisailam Temple access

Comparison Table
Core vs Buffer

H2 How to Reach

H3 By road

H3 By rail

H3 By air

H2 Conservation Challenges

H3 Landscape connectivity

H3 Tiger corridors

H3 Fire management

H3 Community participation

H3 Chenchu communities

H2 Nagarjuna-Srisailam vs Amrabad Tiger Reserve

Comparison Table

H2 Practical Visitor Tips

• Expert Tip
• Photography Tip
• Responsible Tourism Tip
• Family Travel Tip
• Practical Checklist

H2 Common Mistakes Visitors Make

H2 Frequently Asked Questions

Approximately 20 FAQs.

Conclusion

Planned Comparison Tables

1. Quick Facts
2. Core vs Buffer
3. Seasonal Travel Guide
4. Wildlife Diversity
5. NSTR vs Amrabad Tiger Reserve
6. Important Facts at a Glance

Planned FAQs

Twenty FAQs covering:

• Location
• Area
• Tiger numbers
• Leopard numbers
• Wildlife
• Best season
• Core closure
• Temple access
• Photography
• Safety
• Conservation
• Safari planning

Production Roadmap

Part 1

• Introduction
• What Makes Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve Special?
• Location and Geography

Part 2

• History
• Habitat
• Wildlife

Part 3

• Tiger and Leopard Population
• Best Time to Visit
• Tourism
• Visitor Access
• How to Reach

Part 4

• Conservation
• Comparison with Amrabad
• Visitor Tips
• Common Mistakes
• FAQs
• Conclusion

Part 1

Introduction

Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is the largest tiger reserve in India by total notified area. Spread across the rugged Nallamala Hills of the Eastern Ghats, it protects one of the country’s most significant landscapes for tiger conservation. Beyond its size, the reserve is valued for its continuous forests, deep valleys, the Krishna River, and the ecological connectivity it provides to neighbouring protected areas.

Unlike many tiger reserves that are primarily known for safari tourism, NSTR serves multiple roles. It is an important refuge for tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild dogs, and hundreds of bird species, while also supporting local communities and accommodating one of southern India’s major pilgrimage destinations at Srisailam. This combination of wildlife conservation, cultural significance, and landscape-scale management makes the reserve distinct among India’s protected areas.

For travellers, NSTR offers a different experience from the more tourism-focused tiger reserves. The emphasis here is less on frequent tiger sightings and more on exploring a vast forest ecosystem where conservation remains the primary objective. Understanding this helps visitors set realistic expectations and appreciate the reserve for its ecological importance rather than treating it solely as a safari destination.

Field Note: Visitor access can change seasonally. According to the research brief, the reserve’s core area is closed to tourists from 1 July to 30 September 2026 to reduce disturbance during the tiger breeding season. Always check the latest official updates before planning a trip.

What Makes Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve Special?

India’s Largest Tiger Reserve

NSTR is recognised as India’s largest tiger reserve by total notified area, covering approximately 5,937 square kilometres. Official NTCA figures describe a landscape comprising a large critical tiger habitat (core area) and an extensive buffer that together protect one of the biggest continuous forest blocks in peninsular India. Because different official sources may refer to the entire reserve, the Andhra Pradesh administrative area, or updated mapped boundaries, readers may encounter varying area figures. Understanding which figure a source is using helps avoid confusion.

Why This Landscape Matters

The reserve’s importance extends beyond the number of tigers it supports. Its forests function as a landscape-scale conservation area where wildlife can move across large tracts of habitat. Such connectivity is essential for maintaining healthy tiger populations, supporting genetic diversity, and allowing animals to disperse between protected forests in the Eastern Ghats. The Krishna River, steep valleys, plateaus, and dry deciduous forests together create habitats for a wide range of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Who Should Visit?

NSTR is best suited for:

• Wildlife enthusiasts interested in large forest ecosystems rather than guaranteed tiger sightings.
• Birdwatchers looking to explore one of the Eastern Ghats’ important avian habitats.
• Nature photographers seeking varied landscapes, reservoirs, and forest scenery.
• Travellers combining wildlife with a visit to the Srisailam Temple.
• Students and conservation enthusiasts interested in India’s tiger conservation efforts.

Location and Geography

Where Is Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve?

Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve lies within the Nallamala Hills of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh and forms part of a broader forest landscape that connects with Telangana’s Amrabad Tiger Reserve. Rather than functioning as an isolated protected area, it is part of a larger ecological network that supports the movement of wide-ranging species such as tigers and leopards.

Landscape at a Glance

Nallamala Hills and the Eastern Ghats

The Nallamala Hills define much of the reserve’s character. Instead of open grasslands, visitors encounter rugged plateaus, rocky ridges, narrow valleys, seasonal streams, and extensive dry deciduous forests interspersed with bamboo. These varied habitats support different wildlife communities and provide shelter for predators as well as prey species.

Krishna River and Reservoirs

The Krishna River is a defining feature of the reserve, flowing through dramatic gorges before widening into major reservoirs, including those associated with Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam. These water bodies not only shape the landscape but also support aquatic wildlife such as mugger crocodiles, otters, turtles, and numerous waterbirds. During dry periods, permanent water sources become especially important for sustaining wildlife across the reserve.

End of Part 1.

Part 2

History of Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

Understanding the reserve’s history helps explain why it occupies such an important place in India’s conservation network. While many visitors know it as a tiger reserve, the area first gained legal protection as a wildlife sanctuary before becoming part of Project Tiger. This gradual evolution reflects India’s broader approach to protecting large forest landscapes rather than focusing solely on individual species.

From Wildlife Sanctuary to Tiger Reserve

The forests of the Nallamala Hills were notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1978. Recognising their importance for tiger conservation, the area was brought under Project Tiger in 1983, giving it the status of a tiger reserve. This change strengthened habitat protection and introduced long-term management focused on safeguarding both predators and their prey.

Since then, conservation has expanded beyond protecting tigers alone. Management today also focuses on maintaining healthy forests, conserving water sources, reducing human pressures, and preserving wildlife corridors that allow animals to move across the broader Eastern Ghats landscape.

Understanding Core and Buffer Areas

Like other tiger reserves in India, NSTR is divided into core and buffer zones, each serving a different purpose.

This zoning system balances wildlife conservation with the needs of local communities living around the reserve. It also helps reduce conflicts between people and wildlife while protecting sensitive breeding habitats.

Responsible Tourism Tip: Remaining on designated roads and following forest department instructions helps minimise disturbance in the reserve’s most sensitive habitats.

Geography and Habitat

One of NSTR’s greatest strengths is the variety of habitats it protects. Instead of a uniform forest, the reserve contains a mosaic of landscapes that support different wildlife species throughout the year.

A Landscape of Hills, Valleys and Rivers

The reserve occupies a large section of the rugged Nallamala Hills, an important offshoot of the Eastern Ghats. The terrain includes:

• Rocky plateaus
• Deep valleys
• Narrow gorges
• Seasonal streams
• Permanent rivers
• Dense forested slopes

This varied topography creates numerous microhabitats, allowing wildlife to find food, water, and shelter under changing seasonal conditions.

Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests

Most of the reserve is covered by tropical dry deciduous forest, one of India’s characteristic forest types. These forests shed many of their leaves during the dry season to conserve moisture before becoming green again with the arrival of the monsoon.

Common habitat features include:

• Dry deciduous woodland
• Bamboo patches
• Grass undergrowth
• Rocky escarpments
• Riverine vegetation along the Krishna River

Together, these habitats support a wide range of herbivores, which in turn sustain large carnivores such as tigers, leopards and dholes.

Why Habitat Diversity Matters

Large predators require more than forest cover. They also need abundant prey, reliable water, and safe movement routes between different parts of the landscape.

NSTR provides this combination by protecting extensive tracts of relatively continuous forest. The reserve also forms part of a larger conservation landscape connected with neighbouring protected forests, making it an important wildlife corridor in the Eastern Ghats. Such connectivity allows animals to disperse naturally and helps maintain healthy populations over the long term.

Field Note: Unlike reserves dominated by open meadows, much of NSTR consists of dense dry deciduous forest. Wildlife sightings often depend on patience, quiet observation, and spending time near natural water sources.

Wildlife of Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

Although tigers attract most attention, the reserve protects an impressive variety of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. According to the research brief, official records document more than 80 mammal species, 303 bird species, 54 reptile species, and 20 amphibian species, making it one of the most biologically important protected landscapes in the Eastern Ghats.

Big Cats and Other Mammals

Bengal Tiger

The Bengal tiger is the reserve’s flagship species and the primary focus of conservation management. The vast forested landscape provides suitable habitat for breeding tigers, while seasonal tourism closures help minimise disturbance during sensitive periods.

Indian Leopard

Leopards are widespread throughout the reserve and are particularly adaptable, using rocky hills, forest edges and dense woodland. Recent reporting highlighted NSTR for having one of India’s highest estimated leopard populations among tiger reserves, although such figures should always be interpreted in the context of the survey year and methodology.

Other Carnivores

Visitors may also encounter signs of several other predators, including:

• Dhole (Indian wild dog)
• Indian wolf
• Golden jackal

These carnivores play an important role in maintaining ecological balance by regulating herbivore populations.

Herbivores

Healthy prey populations are essential for sustaining large predators. The reserve supports a variety of ungulates and smaller mammals, including:

• Sambar deer
• Chital (spotted deer)
• Chowsingha
• Chinkara
• Mouse deer
• Wild boar
• Indian porcupine

Their abundance reflects the diversity of habitats found across the reserve.

Birds, Reptiles and River Wildlife

Birdwatchers have the opportunity to observe a wide variety of forest and riverine birds across different seasons. Official records list approximately 303 bird species, making the reserve an important destination for avian diversity in the Eastern Ghats.

Reptiles and aquatic wildlife include:

• Mugger crocodile
• Freshwater turtles
• Otters
• Numerous snake and lizard species associated with dry forests and river habitats

The Krishna River and its reservoirs add another ecological dimension by supporting species rarely seen in purely terrestrial protected areas.

Wildlife at a Glance

Photography Tip: Dense forests often limit visibility compared with open grassland reserves. Carry a telephoto lens, use higher ISO settings when necessary, and be prepared for brief wildlife encounters rather than prolonged sightings.

End of Part 2.

Part 3

Tiger and Leopard Population

Wildlife population figures are among the most searched aspects of Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve. While these numbers provide a useful snapshot of conservation progress, they should always be interpreted carefully. Population estimates vary depending on the survey year, monitoring methods, and reporting source. Rather than viewing them as fixed figures, it is better to see them as indicators of long-term conservation trends.

Tiger Population

Recent reports referenced in the research brief indicate that Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve supports around 76 tigers. This reflects the reserve’s importance as one of India’s major tiger landscapes rather than simply another protected area with a tourism focus. Its vast forests, relatively low levels of habitat fragmentation, and extensive prey base provide suitable conditions for breeding and dispersing tigers.

Because NSTR protects such a large area, tigers are naturally spread across extensive territories. As a result, visitors should not expect the same frequency of sightings seen in smaller reserves with concentrated safari routes.

Leopard Population

Although tigers receive most public attention, leopards are another major conservation success story within the reserve. According to the research brief, recent coverage based on EnviStats India-2024 estimated approximately 360 leopards, placing NSTR among India’s leading tiger reserves for leopard abundance.

Leopards occupy a wide variety of habitats across the reserve, from rocky escarpments and valleys to dense dry deciduous forests. Their adaptability allows them to coexist with tigers while exploiting different prey and habitat niches.

Why Population Numbers Change

Wildlife numbers should never be viewed as permanent.

Several factors influence official estimates, including:

• Improvements in camera-trap coverage.
• Updated survey techniques.
• Natural births and mortality.
• Seasonal movement of animals.
• Refinement of scientific methodologies.

For this reason, official surveys released by agencies such as the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) remain the most reliable reference for long-term trends.

Expert Tip: When comparing tiger reserves, avoid judging them solely by tiger numbers. Habitat quality, landscape connectivity, prey availability, and successful breeding are equally important indicators of conservation success.

Best Time to Visit Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

The best time to visit depends on what you hope to experience. Wildlife viewing, weather conditions, road accessibility, and visitor regulations all change throughout the year.

Winter (October to February)

Winter is generally the most comfortable season for visiting the reserve.

Visitors can expect:

• Pleasant daytime temperatures.
• Comfortable conditions for sightseeing.
• Good opportunities for birdwatching.
• Green landscapes following the monsoon.

Although wildlife can be more difficult to spot in denser post-monsoon vegetation, the overall travel experience is usually more enjoyable because of the cooler climate.

Summer (March to June)

Summer offers the highest chances of observing mammals near permanent water sources.

As natural water becomes scarce, animals often concentrate around rivers, reservoirs, and waterholes. While temperatures can become extremely high during the afternoon, early morning and late evening excursions may reward patient observers with sightings of deer, wild boar, sloth bears, and occasionally large carnivores.

Monsoon (July to September)

The monsoon transforms the reserve into a lush green landscape.

However, this period also brings practical limitations:

• Heavy rainfall.
• Slippery roads.
• Reduced accessibility.
• Dense vegetation that limits wildlife visibility.

According to the research brief, the core tourism zone remains closed from 1 July to 30 September 2026 to minimise disturbance during the tiger breeding season. Visitors planning wildlife trips should verify the latest official notifications before travelling.

Seasonal Guide

Photography Tip: Early morning light during winter often provides the best balance between soft illumination and active wildlife movement.

Tourism and Visitor Experience

Unlike heavily commercialised safari destinations, Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve places greater emphasis on conservation than tourism. Visitors should approach the reserve with realistic expectations and an appreciation for its ecological significance.

Understanding Tourism Access

Tourism within the reserve is carefully regulated to reduce disturbance to wildlife. Access varies depending on management decisions, seasonal conditions, and conservation priorities.

Some areas remain open for visitors, while highly sensitive habitats receive stricter protection. This approach helps maintain breeding areas and minimises pressure on wildlife.

Core and Buffer Areas

Visitors often encounter the terms core and buffer, but these areas serve different purposes.

Understanding this distinction helps explain why access restrictions sometimes apply even when surrounding areas remain open.

Seasonal Closures

Temporary tourism closures are an important conservation tool rather than an inconvenience.

The research brief notes that the reserve’s core area was closed between 1 July and 30 September 2026 to reduce disturbance during the tiger breeding season. Such closures allow wildlife to breed and rear young with minimal human interference.

Visiting Srisailam

One feature that distinguishes NSTR from many other tiger reserves is the presence of Srisailam, one of India’s most significant pilgrimage centres.

This creates an interesting balance between conservation and religious tourism. Forest managers work to accommodate pilgrims while ensuring that wildlife habitats remain protected, particularly during periods of increased visitor numbers.

How to Reach Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

Travellers should plan their journey well in advance, particularly if combining wildlife tourism with a pilgrimage to Srisailam.

By Road

Road travel is the most practical way to reach different parts of the reserve. Several access routes connect nearby towns with forest entry points and Srisailam.

By Rail

Visitors arriving from other parts of India typically use nearby railway stations before completing the journey by road.

By Air

The nearest airports provide convenient access for domestic travellers, followed by onward road travel.

Because transport infrastructure and visitor regulations may change over time, travellers should confirm the latest route information before departure.

Practical Checklist Before You Travel

• ✔ Check whether tourism zones are open.
• ✔ Confirm seasonal closure dates.
• ✔ Carry sufficient drinking water, especially in summer.
• ✔ Wear neutral-coloured clothing.
• ✔ Carry binoculars and a telephoto lens if interested in wildlife photography.
• ✔ Respect speed limits and forest department regulations.
• ✔ Never feed or approach wildlife.
• ✔ Keep noise to a minimum throughout your visit.

End of Part 3.

Part 4

Conservation Challenges and Management

Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is important not only because of its size but because it protects one of the largest remaining forest landscapes in the Eastern Ghats. Managing such an extensive reserve involves balancing wildlife conservation, local livelihoods, pilgrimage traffic, and tourism while maintaining healthy habitats for wide-ranging species like tigers and leopards.

A Landscape Connected Beyond Reserve Boundaries

Unlike smaller protected areas, NSTR functions as part of a much larger conservation landscape. Wildlife does not recognise administrative boundaries, and large mammals regularly move through connected forests in search of food, mates, and new territories.

This connectivity:

• Maintains genetic diversity.
• Allows young tigers to establish new territories.
• Reduces the risk of isolated wildlife populations.
• Strengthens long-term conservation across the Eastern Ghats.

Protecting these movement corridors is therefore as important as protecting the reserve itself.

Habitat Management

Conservation extends far beyond protecting individual animals. Forest managers work to maintain healthy ecosystems by focusing on habitat quality.

Key management priorities include:

• Preventing forest fires.
• Protecting natural water sources.
• Controlling illegal activities.
• Monitoring wildlife movement.
• Maintaining prey populations.
• Reducing habitat degradation.

These measures help sustain the ecological processes that support the reserve’s diverse wildlife.

Community Participation

Communities living around protected forests are important partners in conservation.

The research brief highlights the role of the Chenchu communities, who have long-standing cultural connections with the forests of the Nallamala Hills. Modern conservation increasingly recognises that involving local communities in protection, monitoring, and sustainable resource management contributes to better long-term outcomes for both people and wildlife.

Managing Tourism Responsibly

Tourism provides opportunities for education and local livelihoods, but it also requires careful regulation.

Measures such as:

• Seasonal closures,
• Controlled visitor access,
• Regulated vehicle movement,
• Visitor awareness programmes,

help minimise disturbance to wildlife, especially during sensitive breeding periods. Rather than viewing these restrictions as inconveniences, visitors should recognise them as part of responsible protected-area management.

Responsible Tourism Tip: Your behaviour matters. Staying on designated routes, avoiding loud noises, and following guide instructions all contribute to protecting wildlife.

Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve vs Amrabad Tiger Reserve

Because these neighbouring reserves share the Nallamala landscape, travellers often wonder how they differ.

Rather than competing with each other, the two reserves complement one another by protecting adjoining sections of the same forest ecosystem. Together, they form one of India’s most important tiger landscapes.

Practical Visitor Tips

Expert Tip

Plan your visit around the overall experience rather than hoping for a tiger sighting. NSTR is best appreciated as a large, functioning ecosystem where every observation—from birds and butterflies to deer and reptiles—contributes to the experience.

Photography Tip

Carry binoculars and a telephoto lens. Dense forest often means wildlife appears only briefly, so patience is more valuable than constantly searching for dramatic sightings.

Family Travel Tip

Families combining wildlife with a pilgrimage to Srisailam should allow extra travel time and check seasonal visitor advisories before departure.

Responsible Tourism Tip

Avoid littering, never feed wildlife, and keep conversations quiet while inside forest areas. Respect temporary closures and restricted zones.

Practical Checklist

Before visiting:

• □ Confirm whether tourism zones are open.
• □ Check seasonal weather.
• □ Carry government-issued identification if required.
• □ Wear earth-toned clothing.
• □ Pack binoculars.
• □ Carry drinking water.
• □ Follow instructions from forest staff.
• □ Respect wildlife viewing distances.
• □ Leave no litter behind.

Common Mistakes Visitors Make

Avoid these common planning errors:

Expecting Guaranteed Tiger Sightings

NSTR protects an enormous landscape where tigers occupy extensive territories. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

Ignoring Seasonal Closures

Visitors sometimes assume the reserve remains open throughout the year. Always verify current access conditions before travelling.

Treating the Reserve Like a Zoo

Wild animals behave naturally and may remain hidden for long periods. Appreciating tracks, birds, landscapes, and smaller wildlife is part of the experience.

Underestimating Travel Distances

The reserve covers a vast area. Journey times between destinations can be longer than expected.

Focusing Only on Tigers

NSTR also supports leopards, sloth bears, dholes, crocodiles, hundreds of bird species, reptiles, and diverse forest ecosystems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve the largest tiger reserve in India?

Yes. It is recognised as India’s largest notified tiger reserve by total area.

Where is Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve located?

The reserve lies in the Nallamala Hills of Andhra Pradesh and forms part of a larger forest landscape connected with Telangana’s Amrabad Tiger Reserve.

What is the best time to visit?

October to February offers pleasant weather, while summer can improve wildlife viewing near water sources.

How many tigers live in the reserve?

Recent reports referenced in the research brief indicate around 76 tigers, although official numbers vary with each survey.

Why is the reserve important?

It protects one of India’s largest continuous forest landscapes and plays a major role in tiger conservation, wildlife connectivity, and biodiversity conservation.

Is the reserve good for birdwatching?

Yes. Official records mention approximately 303 bird species, making it an attractive destination for bird enthusiasts.

Can I visit throughout the year?

Not always. Tourism access can be seasonally restricted, particularly in the core area during sensitive breeding periods. Always check current official updates before planning your visit.

What other wildlife can I see?

Besides tigers, the reserve supports leopards, sloth bears, dholes, wolves, deer, wild boar, crocodiles, otters, reptiles, amphibians, and hundreds of bird species.

Is this reserve suitable for first-time wildlife travellers?

Yes, provided expectations are realistic. It is better suited to travellers interested in experiencing a large natural landscape than those seeking frequent tiger sightings.

Why are seasonal closures necessary?

Temporary closures reduce human disturbance during critical wildlife breeding periods and support long-term conservation objectives.

Conclusion

Nagarjuna-Srisailam Tiger Reserve stands apart not simply because it is India’s largest tiger reserve, but because it protects an entire landscape where forests, rivers, wildlife, and local communities remain closely connected. Its ecological significance extends beyond tiger conservation, supporting hundreds of bird species, diverse mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and one of the most extensive dry deciduous forest ecosystems in the Eastern Ghats.

Visitors who approach NSTR with realistic expectations are likely to find far more than a wildlife checklist. Exploring its rugged terrain, observing its varied habitats, and understanding its conservation challenges provide a deeper appreciation of how large protected landscapes function. Whether you are a wildlife enthusiast, photographer, birder, student, or pilgrim visiting nearby Srisailam, the reserve offers valuable insights into India’s ongoing efforts to conserve biodiversity on a landscape scale.

Before travelling, always check the latest official information on visitor access, seasonal closures, and conservation advisories. Responsible travel not only improves your experience but also helps ensure that this remarkable landscape continues to support wildlife for generations to come.