Tamil Nadu Wildlife Conservation - II

4. Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary

• It lies South of the Palakkad gap in the Southern side of Western Ghats and spread over Coimbatore, Tiruppur & Dindigul districts.
• It was declared as Wildlife Sanctuary in 1976 and named “Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Consequently, it was renamed “Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary” in 1987.
• There is a rich diversity of medicinal plant wealth and Kariyan shola of this region is protected as one of the Medicinal Plants Conservation Area (MPCA) of India.
• The Tiger Reserve supports healthy population of several endangered wild animals (Fishes ≥ 70 species, Amphibians ≥ 70 species, Reptiles ≥ 120 species, Birds ≥ 300 species, Mammals ≥ 80 species.

• The only South Indian wild goat, and the State animal of Tamil Nadu, the Nilgiri Tahr is found in sizeable number on the high-altitude rocky hills and grass lands in this Tiger Reserve.

• Anamalai is worth to be designated as “Anthropological Reserve‟ as it supports 6 indigenous people viz. Malasar, Malai malasars, Kadars, Eravallars, Pulayars and Muduvars.
• This is very unique in the entire Tamil Nadu and probably the only Protected Area with diverse groups of indigenous people.

5. Vallanadu Black Buck Sanctuary

• Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area which created for the protection of blackbuck antelope.
• This Sanctuary is located in Vallanadu village of Srivaikundam Taluk of Thoothukudi district.

• The sanctuary is a South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forest.
• The sanctuary is also home to a large variety of mammals such as jungle cats, mongooses and spotted deer.

6. Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary

• Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the Western Ghats.
• This sanctuary is a mix of tropical evergreen forests, semi-evergreen forests, dry deciduous forests, moist mixed deciduous forests and grassland.
• It is an important landscape for elephant conservation programme in Periyar Tiger Reserve.
• This Division has wide varieties of endangered species such as Grizzled Squirrel, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Nilgiri tahr, Gaur, Lion Tailed Macaque and Hyena.
• It is one of the six potential habitats with viable population of Grizzled Squirrel in India.

• Grizzled Giant Squirrel identified as flagship species for this protected area.
• IUCN listed this species as near threatened due to habitat loss and hunting.

7. Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary

• Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Kanyakumari district.
• The area is also a tiger habitat.
• Seven rivers originate in the forest including the Thamirabarani River and Pahruli River.
• Several new species of plants, amphibians and insects discovered here are found nowhere else, making it an endemic region.
• In addition to tigers, it is home to the threatened species like Indian Bison, elephant, Indian Rock Python, Lion-tailed Macaque, Mouse deer, Nilgiri Tahr and Sambar deer.

• It also forms a part of the Agasthiyarmalai Biosphere Reserve.

8. Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located in the Erode District.
• Sathyamangalam Forest Division has diversity of vegetation types from dry thorn shrub to patches of semi-evergreen forests in the upper regions.
• Southern portion of the Forest has been declared as Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary.
• In 2013, it became the fourth tiger reserve as a part of Project Tiger in Tamil Nadu.

• Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is the largest wildlife sanctuary in the state.
• It is the meeting place of two distinct geographical regions of bio diversity landscape; Western Ghats and Eastern Ghat.
• This reserve also adjoins following four other protected areas:
  • Billigiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary,
  • Sigur Plateau,
  • Mudumalai National Park and
  • Bandipur National Park.
• It is an important landscape for elephant conservation program in Nilgiris and Eastern Ghats.
• This division has wide varieties of endangered species such as Elephant, Gaur, Blackbuck, Tiger, Leopard, White backed vulture and Hyena.

• This sanctuary also harbors several species of wild relatives of cultivated plants including, Wild ginger, Turmeric, Solanum, and Mango.
• These forests are home to indigenous tribal people belonging largely to the Irula tribe (also known as the Urali) and Soliga communities.

9. Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

• Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, sharing its boundaries with Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Sanctuary and Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala.
• Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary is carved out of Madurai and Theni Division forest areas in the Southern side of Western Ghats.
• Its Vegetation ranges from scrub forests at the foothills, up to ubiquitous expanses of tea and coffee estates, to spice (pepper, hell cardamom, cinnamon) plantations and finally to the dense evergreen forests at the top.

• This Sanctuary is known for its rich diversity. It harbors large number of Endemic, endangered and vulnerable flora and fauna.
• Meghamalai forest area hosts a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. Resident and migratory elephants are common here.
• The most common migratory birds were grey wagtail, Asian paradise flycatcher and greenish leaf warbler and common swallow.

• The most uncommon migratory bird was the Indian blue robin in Vellimalai sector.
• It is a home for indigenous tribal group - Paliyars.
• It also supports some irrigation cum hydroelectric Project like Periyar and Suruliar Hydro Electric Projects.
• This sanctuary qualifies as Elephant Reserve, Tiger Reserve, Anthropological reserve, Primate Sanctuary and Wild gene sanctuary.

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