Tamil Nadu - Tamilnadu Wild Life- Mudhumalai Wild Life

Mudhumalai Wild Life

The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, now also declared a Tiger Reserve, lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains), in Nilgiri District, about 160 km (99 mi) north-west of Coimbatore in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu, on the interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala states in South India. Mudumalai, which means 'first hills’, is one of the first wildlife sanctuaries established in India. The sanctuary is divided into 5 ranges - Masinagudi, Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota.

Here one can often spot herds of endangered Indian elephants, vulnerable Gaur, and Chital. The sanctuary is a haven for Bengal Tigers and Indian Leopards and other threatened species. There are at least 266 species of birds in the sanctuary, including critically endangered species like the Indian White-rumped Vulture and the long-billed vulture.

The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000 km2 (2,300 sq mi)6,000), including all of Mudumalai National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

 Elephant_close

Coordinates

 11°35′00″N 76°33′00″E / 11.5833333°N 76.55°E / 11.5833333; 76.55

Country

  India

State

 Tamil Nadu

District(s)

 Nilgiri

Established

 1940
Nearest city Udhagamandalam (Ooty) 67 km (42 mi)

Time zone

 IST (UTC+5:30)

Area
• Elevation

 321 km2 (124 sq mi)
• 1,266 m (4,154 ft)

Climate
• Precipitation
Temperature
• Summer
• Winter

 Aw (Köppen)
•      2,000 mm (78.7 in)

•      33 °C (91 °F)
•      14 °C (57 °F)

Core of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

 Visitors Center at Theppakadu

Governing body

 Tamil Nadu Forest Dept

Visitation 2008

 100,000+

Entry fee

 Rs. 15. per adult
(No private vehicles allowed in the Sanctuary)

Website

 Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park (cited)

 

Location

The Mudumalai Sanctuary is as an important wildlife habitat due to its strategic position as a Wildlife corridor between several other protected areas that are a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. To the north is the Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park. To the west is the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and in the south are Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley National Park. To the east is the Segur plateau which connects to the Sathyamangalam Reserve Forest and Biligirirangan Hills Wildlife Sanctuary. These parks and the adjoining Reserve Forests cover over 3,300 square kilometres (1,300 sq mi) of forest supporting a population of 1800-2300 elephants.

The elevation of the sanctuary varies from a minimum of 960 meters (3,150 ft) m to a maximum of 1,266 meters (4,154 ft). The sanctuary has a tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate that corresponding to the categories Aw and As of the Köppen climate classification. Rainfall ranges from 790 mm (31 in) to 2,000 mm (79 in).

 

Page - 1 - 2 - 3 - Next