Parambikulam, the second of Kerala's tiger reserves, with a core of 390.89 sq km
Background
Parambikulam is one of the two tiger reserves of Kerala listed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the other being Periyar. The authority's list of tiger reserves records 2009 as the tiger reserve notification year for Parambikulam. Its core area is 390.89 sq km and its buffer area 252.77 sq km, giving a total area of 643.66 sq km. Periyar carries a protected area notification of 1978-79 and a tiger reserve notification year of 2007, with a core area of 881.00 sq km and a buffer area of 44.00 sq km. Parambikulam therefore has the smaller core of the two but much the larger buffer.
In plain words
NTCA National Tiger Conservation Authority — The statutory body that notifies and oversees India's tiger reserves.
Core area Core area — The critical tiger habitat of a reserve, kept free of human use.
Buffer area Buffer area — The surrounding zone of a tiger reserve where regulated human use is allowed.