Mudumalai National Park

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Mudumalai National Park
Mudumalai NP (Tamil Nadu)
Mudumalai NP
Mudumalai NP
Mudumalai NP (Tamil Nadu)
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Location Nilgiri, India
Nearest city Coimbatore
Coordinates 11°30′0″N 76°30′0″E / 11.5, 76.5
Area 321 km²
Established 1940

The Mudumalai National Park lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills (Blue Mountains), in Nilgiri District, about 80 km north-west of Coimbatore in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu, on the interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala states in South India.

Contents

[edit] Conservation history

The park was created in 1940 to become the first wildlife sanctuary in southern India. Originally 60 square kilometres, the sanctuary was enlarged to 295 km² in 1956 and subsequently to its present size of 321 km². The sanctuary is contiguous with Bandipur National Park (874 km²), Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary (344 km²), Sigur and Singara reserve forests. The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000+ km²), including all of Mudumalai National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.[1]

[edit] Flora and fauna

There are three main types of forest: tropical moist deciduous, tropical dry deciduous and southern tropical thorn. In certain places mixed vegetation types are present. Tropical moist deciduous forest occurs in the western Benne Block, where rainfall is higher than in the other blocks.

Primates found include the Gray langur (Semnopithecus priam) and the Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata). There are as many as 37 Tigers (Panthera tigris) (E) in mudumalai forest area [2], whereas the Leopard (P. pardus) (T) is most often seen in the Kargudi area. Other carnivores include the Dhole (Cuon alpinus) (V), the Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) and the Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) (I). The Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) (E) population totals several hundred animals. Ungulates include the Gaur (Bos gaurus) (V), the Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor), the Chital (Axis axis), Indian Muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), the Indian Spotted Chevrotain (Moschiola meminna), and the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa). Rodents include the Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica maxima) and the Red Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista petaurista).

Bird life is rich. Regional endemics include Malabar trogon Harpactes fasciatus and Malabar grey hornbill Tockus griseus. Predatory birds include crested hawk-eagle Spizaetus cirrhatus and crested serpent eagle Spilornis cheela. It also holds the isolated southern population of the Striped Tit-babbler Macronous gularis.[3] Of the reptiles, monitor lizard Varanus bengalensis is the most regularly observed species.

[edit] Visitor facilities

The nearest airport is at Coimbatore (84km) and the closest railhead at Udhagamandalam (64km). However, in terms of travel practicality, the closest railhead is Mysore (90km),which sits on a major broad gauge line and is served by trains from across the country. The park is most conveniently accessible by road from Mysore on the Mysore-Ooty highway.

There are various resorts that visitors can stay in. There are also night safaris on open top jeeps arranged by resorts and guides who are freely accessible in Masinagudi.The night safaris are conducted on the peripheral roads running through the forest and not deep into the forest

Other Places to visit in this region Include
1, The Elephant Feeding Camp - A place where you can interact with Elephants and also see how they are fed.
2, Museum - Near the Elephant feeding camp there is a museum where dead animals are preserved. These preserved animals ones lived in the Mudumalai Jungle.
3, Moyar River - See how the Moyar river runs through the dense forest. Spotting animals while they come to drink water in the river is fun.
4, Elephant Safari and Van Safari Conducted by Tamilnadu forest department.
5, Kallatty falls - Located 30Km from Mudumalai forest department . A beautiful falls with breathtaking view.
6, Pykara Lake - Located 40 Km from Mudumalai Safari office . It is a clean and scenic lake in between the hills. It is an isolated lake free from pollution and maddening crowed . Boating is conducted here . It is a place worth visiting when you plan to visit Mudumalai.You will remember this scenic spot throughout your life

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ UNESCO, World Heritage sites, Tentative lists, Western Ghats sub cluster, Niligiris. retrieved 4/20/2007 World Heritage sites, Tentative lists
  2. ^ Tiger census in Mudumalai forest
  3. ^ Praveen J., Job K. Joseph & Nick Lethaby (2004) Sighting of Yellow-breasted Babbler Macronous gularis in South India. Newsletter for Ornithologists 1(3):43 PDF

[edit] References

  • Israel, S. and Sinclair, T. (Eds) (1987). Indian Wildlife, Sri Lanka, Nepal. APA Productions, Hong Kong. 363 pp.
  • Sestiadti, B. (1986). Mudumalai Sanctuary. India's wildlife and wildlife reserves. Sterling Publishers, New Delhi.
  • Sharma, B.D., Shetty, B.V., Virekananthan, K. and Rathakrishnan, N.C. (1978). Flora of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 75: 13-42.

[edit] External links