Protected Areas of Tamil Nadu - Wildlife Sanctuaries

Wildlife Sanctuaries

There are 7 wildlife sanctuaries plus 13 bird sanctuaries that together cover over 2,997.60 km2 (1,157.38 sq mi), 2.30% of the total state area.

  1. Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, a 485 km2 (187 sq mi) Giant Squirrel Sanctuary near Srivilliputhur,in Virudhunagar district consisting of mainly dry deciduous forests with patches of tropical evergreen forests, Semi-evergreen forests, moist mixed deciduous forests and grassland. Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel, Tree Shrew, Elephant, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, mouse deer, barking deer and many species of birds may be seen.
  2. Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is contiguous with Indira Gandhi National Park in Coimbatore District. The 841.49 km2 (324.90 sq mi) forest varies from dry deciduous to semi-evergreen, evergreen and montane wet temperate containing Teak, Rose wood and other tropical species. Animals, including Indian Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Dhole, Nilgiri Langur, Lion-tailed Macaque, Sambar, Four horned Antelope, Chital and a host of birds, notably the Trogar, Pied Hornbill and several types of Eagles may be seen.
  3. Kalakkad Wildlife Sanctuary in Tirunelveli District is part of the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. This 223.58 km2 (86.32 sq mi) forest consists of mostly tropical wet evergreen forests which change to tropical dry deciduous forests in the foothills and to thorn forests further down. This sanctuary is famous for Lion-tailed macaque. All four species (common Langur, Nilgiri Langur, Bonnet Macaque and lion tailed Macaque) can be seen. . Other animals include Nilgiri tahr, sambar, sloth bear, gaur, Indian elephant, tiger, flying squirrel, panther, Dhole, pangolin and a variety of birds and reptiles.
  4. Mundanthurai Sanctuary 282.08 km2 (108.91 sq mi) in Tirunelveli District, is part of Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
  5. Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary is a 457.78 km2 (176.75 sq mi) tiger habitat in Kanyakumari district declared a sanctuary in February 2008.
  6. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary in Nilgiris district is contiguous with Mudumalai National Park. It consists of 217.76 km2 (84.08 sq mi) primarily moist deciduous forest which becomes dry deciduous towards Bandipur including mainly mixed forests with bamboos. Animals including Elephant, Gaur, Sambar, Chital, Dhole Panther, Tiger, Sloth bear, Python, Barking deer, Four-horned antelope, common Langur, Otter, Crocodiles (mugger) and a variety of birds and reptiles may be seen.
  7. Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary in Erode district, 1,411.6 km2 (545.0 sq mi), the largest wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, was declared a sanctuary in 2008.

There is a proposal to declare this sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve due to the 46 tigers large number of tigers seen in the 2010 wildlife survey. The Sathyamangalam forest is the only reserve forest in South India with a significant presence of tigers, that is not yet declared as one of the tiger reserves in India.

  1. Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary, a 16.41 km2 (6.34 sq mi) Black Buck Antelope sanctuary in Thoothukudi District, is a Scrub forest where Black Buck, Spotted deer, macaques, Jungle cat, Mongoose, and Hares may be seen.

As of 2006 there were an additional 18 proposed sanctuaries totaling 2,957.52 km2 (1,141.90 sq mi) awaiting declaration.

  • 05B Barbetta 200.00 km2 (77.22 sq mi)
  • 05B Kanjiramalai (Bolampatti) 95.00 km2 (36.68 sq mi)
  • 06E Karaandamalai-Sirumalai 30.00 km2 (11.58 sq mi)
  • 06E Kaveri 1,336.02 km2 (515.84 sq mi)
  • 06E Kazhiveli 10.00 km2 (3.86 sq mi)
  • 05A Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary is a 457.78 km2 (176.75 sq mi) tiger habitat in Kanyakumari district declared a sanctuary in February 2008.*05A KEERIPARAI 20.00 km2 (7.72 sq mi)
  • 05B Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary is a 736.87 km2 (284.51 sq mi) proposed consolidation of several Reserve forests located in the 2,068 km2 (798 sq mi) Palni Hills. The Forest Department is working to establish the sanctuary in 2007
  • 06E Krishnapuram 24.46 km2 (9.44 sq mi)
  • 06E Marakaram 5.00 km2 (1.93 sq mi)
  • 05B MEGAMALAI 573.46 km2 (221.41 sq mi)
  • 06E Nellai 511.95 km2 (197.67 sq mi)
  • 08B Pitchavaram 13.50 km2 (5.21 sq mi)
  • 06E Salem 30.00 km2 (11.58 sq mi)
  • 06E Sandal 100.00 km2 (38.61 sq mi)
  • 05A Suchindramkulam 4.42 km2 (1.71 sq mi)
  • 05B Sujjalkuttai 243.71 km2 (94.10 sq mi)
  • 06E Varushanad 50.00 km2 (19.31 sq mi)

Read more about this topic:  Protected Areas Of Tamil Nadu

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