The much talked about movie 'Pushpa: The Rise' has proved to be a blockbuster at the box office with a whooping business of over Rs 300 crore. The film has also been released on Amazon Prime Video in four languages. The movie shows the rise of Pushpa, played by Allu Arjun, as a red sandalwood smuggler in the Seashachalam hills of Andhra Pradesh. The movie draws our attention to the precious Red Sanders which is an Indian endemic tree species, restricted to a distinct tract of forests in Andhra Pradesh. What makes this rare variety of sandalwood so precious? Here's the answer:
1. Pterocarpus santalinus which is commonly known as Red Sanders or Red Sandalwood, is an Indian endemic tree species that is restricted to the Eastern Ghats. Red Sanders is found in Chittoor, Kadapa, Nandhyal, Nellore, Prakasam districts of Andhra Pradesh.
2. In 2018, the species was categorised as 'near threatened' , but now it has been listed under the 'endangered ' category by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN).
3. Illegal harvesting, trade and smuggling of Red Sandalwood is very much evident in India, to meet the international demands. This illegal activity follows many arrests every year in the country.
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4. The wood is highly valued in China, Myanmar, Japan and East Asia. The timber of Red Sandalwood tree is highly demanded, especially in East Asian countries,
5. Often regarded as one of the most expensive woods in the world, Red Sanders caters to huge demand internationally because of the rich red colour of its wood and therapeutic properties. It is used in cosmetics, medicinal products, for making furniture, woodcraft as well as musical instruments.
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6. It is so precious that a tonne of Red Sanders costs nearly between Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore in the international market.
