National Parks In Tamil Nadu
Introduction
Due to the wide variety of habitats that can be found there, Tamil Nadu has a high biodiversity. Tigers, leopards, elephants, and endangered species like the Golden Langur and black buck live in the corridor of dense forest that is created where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet. As a result, visiting Tamil Nadu’s national parks is an exciting experience.
Tamil Nadu Has the Following National Parks on Its List:
- Madumalai National Park, Madumalai
It was the first national park in Southern India and was established in 1940. Numerous animals, such as tigers, leopards, striped hyenas, dholes, sloth bears, Asian elephants, and Golden Jackals, can be seen in this area. Numerous bird watchers visit Mudumalai National Park in search of the crested hawk-eagle, crested serpent eagle, Malabar Trojan, and Malabar grey hornbill.
Despite being in different states, this park and the Bandipur National Park are frequently visited together because of their proximity to one another. This wildlife sanctuary, just recently designated as a tiger reserve, is located on the banks of the River Moyar and the northern slope of the Nilgiri Hills. It is known for its vast herds of elephants but is also home to tigers, leopards, gaurs, hyenas, sloth bears, sambars, mouse deer, and other wild animals. Here, you can find a variety of reptiles, including crocodiles, pythons, turtles, etc. The avian population in this park is well-known and includes both migratory and resident species like hawk eagles, scops owls, brown doves, black woodpeckers, king vultures, falcons, etc. There are preserved tropical evergreen forests and various mixed deciduous, dry teak, and grasslands.
- Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu
The south of India’s Anamalai Tiger Reserve, also known as the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, is a special reserve that has long protected the region’s endemic species of plants and animals.
In 2007, the area was formally designated as a tiger reserve. It is located in the Western Ghats, a well-known biodiversity hotspot. This also implies that the species present in the tiger reserve are rare, in need of protection, and truly endangered. A trip to the state will only be considered complete with visiting the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, which has been a constant in Tamil Nadu since its founding in 1848. The reserve’s particular setting attracts a lot of photographers and nature enthusiasts who want to see both the wonders of the reserve and the surrounding landscape. The fact that the reserve is also anthropological and is home to about six different tribal groups, one of which is endemic to the region, adds to its uniqueness. People who visit the reserve are sure to see at least a few things that will catch their attention and also make them want to learn more about it.
- Mukurthi National Park, Ooty
There are numerous reasons why the culturally diverse South Indian state of Tamil Nadu draws visitors from all over the world. Tamil Nadu is a true tourist haven, offering everything from extravagant architectural splendor in the form of magnificent temples to tranquility on picturesque beaches and the enchanting allure of the hill stations.
The Mukurthi National Park is a physical example of how this state attracts wildlife enthusiasts due to its astounding variety of lush flora and alluring fauna. Mukurthi National Park, formerly known as the Nilgiri Tahr National Park, is located in the western portion of the Nilgiris Plateau. The primary goal of this UNESCO World Heritage Site’s establishment was to preserve its main species, the Nilgiri Tahr.
- Guindy National Park, Chennai
Guindy National Park is one of Chennai’s must-see sights. Guindy National Park, which occupies a 2.70 km2 area in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is the eighth-smallest national park in India. The Ministry of Environment and Forests is also responsible for maintaining these protected areas. You should also be aware that this is the only park in Chennai. Before its creation, Guindy Lodge was regarded as an extension of the Raj Bhavan, the governor’s official residence of Tamil Nadu.
- Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Dhanushkodi
The Indian Ocean’s Gulf of Mannar is home to the 21 tiny, breathtakingly beautiful islands that make up the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, as well as some nearby coral reefs and shallow water habitats. Various plants and animals can be found in this park’s marine, intertidal, and near-shore habitats. It also serves as the central hub for the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. It boasts of being one of the wealthiest areas in terms of marine biodiversity. The park is not only home to the coral reef, seagrass, and mangroves—three aquatic ecosystems—but also to salt marshes and particular algal communities. The park’s various estuaries, beaches, and forests add to its beauty and show nature in all its splendor.
The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, which covers a total area of 6.23 square kilometers, was established as the nation’s first biosphere reserve in 1980. At the same time, the park is a part of the Indian Ocean, the third-largest ocean basin in the world. Since all twenty-one of the islands in the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park fall under its purview, there are restrictions on tourism and related activities there. The only means of public participation and access within the park is via glass-bottom boats. Nevertheless, a trip to this park is essential if you also want to take advantage of nature’s gifts and see some of her incredible creations.
- Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary, Vedanthangal
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a protected sanctuary with a total area of 30 hectares and is located in the city of Kancheepuram. Around 40,000 bird species from around the world call this sanctuary home while migrating. According to legend, the area’s numerous small lakes, which serve as the birds’ preferred feeding grounds, draw many birds to it. As soon as one enters this area, one can see birds eating, swimming, making a nest, diving, screeching, or just sitting on the trees. The mighty birds in this area are used to seeing visitors and may approach them quietly. Before their long flight home, they enjoy every minute of their lengthy vacation.
In the Tamil language being studied locally, Vedanthangal translates to “the hamlet of a hunter.” It received its name from being a well-known hunting location for the local landowners in the 18th century. The British government decided to establish the area as a bird sanctuary in 1798 after realizing the ornithological significance of the site, making it the first of its kind also in the nation. The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a lovely place to escape the crowds and noise of busy city life thanks to the Barringtonia mangroves, the rich floating habitat, the expansive paddy field, and those powerful flying creatures. Furthermore, nothing compares to the thrill of watching the magnificent birds soar through the sky while gently flapping their wings. For bird watchers and wildlife photographers, the sanctuary is a haven.
- Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Vedanthangal
The Karikili Bird Sanctuary, one of the most well-known bird sanctuaries, is located in Tamil Nadu’s Kanchipuram district. The sanctuary, which has two rain-fed irrigation tanks and covers an area of 61.21 hectares, is only 10 kilometers from the well-known Vedanthagal Bird Sanctuary. Many migratory birds call it home between September and October, and it is a very serene and lovely place to visit. The sanctuary offers visitors a chance to enjoy a picnic amidst the chirping birds while still surrounded by the natural beauty. The sanctuary also has ducks and waders to view and birds.
The sanctuary is best visited at sunset when most migratory birds return in large numbers to their nests. Since the villagers have been guarding the birds in this sanctuary for more than 200 years, it is also one of the oldest sanctuaries in India and a must-see. By the end of the day, one can easily see birds bringing food for their young, who stick their tiny beaks into their parents’ mouths to find food. The sanctuary supports 115 bird species, including Grebes, Grey Pelicans, Cormorants, Egrets, Darters, Spoonbills, Night-herons, and White Ibis. This place is like heaven for anyone who enjoys nature and birds or wants to brush up on their knowledge of birds.
- Kalakkad Wildlife Sanctuary, Tuticorin
One of the few national parks which are in South India that is home to the Tiger is the Kalakkad Wildlife Sanctuary. Other animals found here include the lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, along with bonnet macaque, langur, Nilgiri tahr, sambar, sloth bear, along with gaur, elephant, flying squirrel, panther, wild dog, and pangolin.
Some of the things you also can do here include going on a safari and going on a trek.
- Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve
In the Southern region of India, in the Western Ghats, is the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, a special place. The Biosphere Reserve is primarily made up of tropical forests, home to about 2,254 species of plants, and has towering peaks that reach up to 1,868 meters above sea level (out of which 400 are endemic). For cultivated plants like cardamom, jasmine, nutmeg, pepper, and plantains, the Biosphere Reserve serves as a unique genetic reservoir. Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve are just a few of the significant wildlife sanctuaries found within the Agasthyamalai Biosphere. Three thousand people live in the various tribal communities that dot the Biosphere reserve. For the most part, these communities depend on biological resources to survive.
Conclusion
There is also a wide variety of birds, some of which migrate, such as flamingos and terns. Tamil Nadu has many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, one of which is a tiger reserve. Some of the most well-known forest reserves in the state are Mudhumalai, Nagarhole, and Bandipur.
