Tamil Nadu has five tiger reserves.
Contents
1. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
- Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu state in India.
- It is situated at the tri-junction of three states, viz, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- It is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
- In 1857, the British Government rented the Mudumalai forest from the Raja of Neelambur for logging purposes.
- In 1940, Mudumalai forest was established as the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
- In 1986, the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary was incorporated into the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which is the first biosphere reserve in India.
- In 1990, the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary was designated as Mudumalai National Park.
- In 2007, Mudumalai National Park was designated as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger.
- Area: The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve covers an approximate area of 321 square kilometers (124 square miles).
- Core: 321.00 km2
- Buffer: 367.59 km2
- Total: 688.59 km2
- Hills: The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. The Nilgiri Hills are part of the Western Ghats.
- Nilgiri Hills
- River: The Moyar River flows through the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
- Moyar River
- Tribe: Some of the prominent tribal communities found in and around the tiger reserve are:
- Todas
- Kurumbas
- Irulas
- Flora: Semi-evergreen Forests, Moist Deciduous Forests, Dry Deciduous Forests, Scrub Forests, Swampy Areas (Vayals), Grasslands etc.
- Fauna: Tiger, Asian Elephant, Indian Gaur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Malabar Trogon, Indian Chameleon, Monitor Lizard etc.
2. Anamalai Tiger Reserve
- Anaimalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Anaimalai Hills of Pollachi and Valparai taluks of Coimbatore District and Udumalaipettai taluk in Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu, India.
- It was earlier known as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park.
- In 1976, the Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary was established.
- In 2003, Anamalai Parambikulam Elephant Reserve was created. The tiger reserve forms part of the Anamalai Parambikulam Elephant Reserve.
- In 2007, the Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary was upgraded to the status of a tiger reserve under the Project Tiger.
- Area: The Anamalai Tiger Reserve covers an area of approximately 958 square kilometers (369 square miles).
- Core: 958.59 sq km
- Buffer: 521.28 sq km
- Total: 1479.87 sq km
- Hills: The Anamalai Tiger Reserve is located in the Anaimalai Hills, also known as the Anamalai Hills or Elephant Hills. These hills are part of the Western Ghats mountain range.
- River: Some of the major rivers that flow through the Anamalai Tiger Reserve are:
- Bhavani River
- Nallar River
- Attakallar River
- Thirumurthy River
- Sholiyar River
- Aliyar River
- Tribe: Some of the tribes that reside within or near the Anamalai Tiger Reserve are:
- Kadars
- Malasars
- Malaimalasar
- Pulaiyars
- Muduvars
- Eravallan (Eravalar)
- Flora: Evergreen Forests (teak, rosewood, ebony, and ironwood), Moist Deciduous Forests (Indian laurel, Indian kino tree, and Indian rosewood), Bamboo, Grasslands, Orchids etc.
- Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Asiatic elephant, Sambar, Spotted deer, Gaur, Nilgiri tahr, Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri langur, Sloth bear, Nilgiri marten, Malabar Woodshrike, Nilgiri Flowerpecker, Nilgiri forest lizard etc.
- The Anamalai Tiger Reserve is known for its enchanting displays of fireflies. Fireflies are bioluminescent insects that emit light, creating a mesmerizing natural spectacle.
3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
- The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is located in the Erode District of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in southern India.
- The reserve is situated at the confluence of the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.
- The tiger reserve is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
- In 2008, the Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary was established.
- In 2013, the sanctuary was upgraded to the status of a tiger reserve.
- In 2022, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve bags the prestigious TX2 Awards after its tiger number doubled to 80 since 2010.
- Area: The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is spread across an area of approximately 1408.405 square kilometers (543.509 square miles).
- Core area : 793.49331 sq km
- Buffer area : 614.91210 sq km
- Total : 1408.405 Sq.km
- River: Bhavani River flows through the reserve. It originates in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu and flows eastward, passing through the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve before eventually joining the Kaveri River.
- Lake: One such notable lake near the tiger reserve is the Bhavanisagar Reservoir (Bhavani Dam).
- Bhavanisagar Reservoir
- Tribe: The tiger reserve is home to Irula and Soliga tribes.
- Irula Tribes
- Soliga Tribes
- The Sathyamangalam forests have had historical associations with Veerappan, a notorious criminal and bandit.
- Flora: Dry Deciduous Forests (Teak, Terminalia, Sandalwood, Indian Rosewood, Indian kino tree, and Anogeissus latifolia), Thorny Scrub (Acacia nilotica, Acacia leucophloea, and Ziziphus species), Riverine Forests (Indian Elm, Indian Gooseberry, and Bamboo species), Grasslands etc.
- Fauna: Tiger, Asian Elephant, Leopard, Gaur, Panther, Sloth Bear, Gaur, Spotted Deer, Dhole, Black Napped Hare, Indian Eagle-Owl, Indian Vulture, Mugger Crocodile etc.
4. Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
- Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is located in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu.
- It consists of the Kanyakumari Wildlife sanctuary and the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary.
- It is a part of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.
- In 1962, the Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary was established and declared as Nation’s first Tiger Sanctuary.
- In 1976, the Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary was established. It was primarily created to protect the endangered Lion-tailed Macaques (Macaca silenus).
- In 1988, both the Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary and Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary were merged to form the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
- It was declared as the “First Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu” and the 17th Tiger Reserve of the country.
- Area: The Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve spans a total area of 1601.542 square kilometers.
- Core: 895.000 sq.km
- Buffer: 706.542 sq.km
- Total: 1601.542 sq.km
- River: This tiger reserve also known as the “River Sanctuary. Among the notable rivers flowing through the reserve are:
- Thambraparani
- Ramanadi
- Karayar
- Servalar
- Manimuthar
- Pachayar
- Kodaiyar
- Gadananathi
- Kallar
- Flora: West Coast Tropical Evergreen Forests (rosewood, teak, ebony, and bamboo), Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forests (teak, jackfruit, neem, and Indian laurel), Southern Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests (white cedar, Indian gooseberry, and flame of the forest), Ochlandra Reed Brakes, Tropical Riparian Fringing Forests (cluding ficus, Indian beech, and fig trees), Montane Wet Grassland etc.
- Fauna: Tiger, Asian Elephant, Leopard, Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Sloth Bear, Indian Gaur, Nilgiri Pipit, Indian Rock Python, Monitor Lizards etc.
5. Srivilleiputhura Meghmalai Tiger Reserve (51st Tiger Reserve in India)
- Srivilleiputhura Meghmalai Tiger Reserve is located in Megamalai in Theni district of Tamil Nadu, India.
- In 2021, the Srivilleiputhura Meghmalai Tiger Reserve was declared as a Tiger Reserve.
- This tiger reserve was formed by combining the Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary and the adjoining Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary.
- It is the 51st tiger reserve in India and 5th Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu state.
- Area: Srivilleiputhura Meghmalai Tiger Reserve has a total area of approximately 1016.57 square kilometers.
- Core area: 641. 86 km2
- Buffer area: 374.70 km2
- Total area: 1016.57 km2
- River: The Vaigai River passes through Srivilleiputhura Meghmalai Tiger Reserve.
- Flora: Tropical Evergreen Forests, Semi-evergreen Forests, Dry Deciduous Forests, Moist Mixed Deciduous Forests, Grassland etc.
- Fauna: Tiger, Asian Elephants, Indian Gaur, Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Leopard, Sloth Bears, Nilgiri Tahrs, Great Indian Hornbill, Malabar Pit Viper, Monitor Lizard etc.