Wildlife Conservation Initiative in Tamil Nadu:
Recognizing the value and need for conservation of the wildlife wealth of the State, Tamil Nadu Government enacted separate law for protection of our valuable animals (The Tamil Nadu Wild Elephants Preservation Act 1873 and The Wild Birds and Animals (Protection) Act,1912), much before enactment of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary was declared way back in 1936, which was the “first” Birds Sanctuary in India. A ‘Sanctuary for Tiger’ in Mundanthurai was declared in 1962 almost eleven years earlier than the launch of ‘Project Tiger’ in the country in 1973.
Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation:
Tamil Nadu has been a pioneer State in Protected Area management and development of forest resources and wildlife. The total area under the protected area management is 7,072.95 sq. km. which comes to 30.92% of the State’s Forest area. The Protected Areas in the State includes 5 National parks, 15 Wildlife sanctuaries, 15 bird sanctuaries and 2 conservation reserves besides 5 Tiger Reserves viz. Anamalai, Kalakkad - Mundanthurai, Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Srivilliputtur Megamalai. These Protected Areas have been established under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Further Tamil Nadu also has the distinction of having 3 Biosphere Reserves viz. Nilgiris, Gulf of Mannar and Agasthiarmalai, which are internationally acclaimed for their rich and unique biodiversity. The Western Ghats are one of the 25 global hotspots and one of the 3 mega centers of endemism in India. The genetic assemblage of Tiger Reserves, Mukurthi, Srivilliputhur, Kanniyakumari and Megamalai owe their richness in flora and fauna to their locations in Western Ghats. The Biodiversity Conservation and Rural Livelihood Improvement Project pursued at Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is a new endeavor in perusing conservation at landscape level, covering five districts namely, Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Madurai and Theni. The State endeavour to improve wildlife wealth through the following practices:
- To improve the wildlife habitats by extending and strengthening the area wherever required and ensuring connectivity of habitats.
- Management of wildlife resources at Landscape level with better Inter-State Coordination.
- Harness the sentiments of tribal and forest dwellers in wildlife management while ensuring livelihood security.
- Efforts to protect the migratory birds and to conserve their habitats.
- Conservation of Wetlands for Avian fauna.
- Inventory of Biodiversity for Bio-prospecting.
- Understanding the lesser known diversity for conservation gains.
The details of Wildlife Sanctuaries, Birds Sanctuaries, National Parks and Conservation Reserve in Tamil Nadu are as follows:
Name of Wildlife Sanctuary | Sanctuary Area in Ha | District in which located | Designation of the Officer | Year in which started |
WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES | ||||
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary | 21776.00 | Nilgiris | CCF & FD, MTR, Ooty | 1940 |
Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary (R.F. 35228.38 + R.L.22979.20) | 58207.58 | Tirunelveli | CCF & FD, KMTR, Tirunelveli | 1962 |
Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary | 1728.81 | Nagapattinam | WLW, Nagapattinam | 1967 |
Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary | 84149.00 | Coimbatore | CCF & FD, ATR, Pollachi | 1976 |
Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary | 22358.00 | Tirunelveli | CCF & FD, KMTR, Tirunelveli | 1976 |
Vallanadu Black Buck Sanctuary | 1641.00 | Tuticorin | DFO, Tuticorin | 1987 |
Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary | 48520.00 | Virudhunagar | WLW, Srivilliputtur | 1988 |
Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary | 40239.55 | Kanyakumari | DFO, Kanyakumari | 2007 |
Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary | 141160.94 | Erode | DFO, Sathyamangalam | 2008, 2011 |
Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary | 26910.81 | Theni and Madurai | WLW, Theni, | 2009 |
Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary Block A and Block B | 12407.27 | Thanjavur and Tiruvarur Nagapattinam | WLW, Nagapattinam DFO, Tiruvarur | 2013 |
Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary | 60895.482 | Dindigul and Theni | DFO, Kodaikanal | 2013 |
Gangaikondan Spotted Deer Sanctuary | 288.40 | Tirunelveli | DFO, Tirunelveli | 2013 |
Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary | 50433.48 | Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri | DFO, Hosur | 2014 |
Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary | 35673.33 | Tirunelveli | DFO, Tirunelveli | 2015 |
Total | 606389.657 | |||
BIRDS SANCTUARIES | ||||
Vettangudi birds Sanctuary | 38.40 | Sivagangai | DFO, Sivagangai | 1977 |
Pulicat Lake Birds Sanctuary | 15367 | Tiruvallur | WLW, Chennai | 1980 |
Karikili Birds Sanctuary | 61.21 | Kancheepuram | WLW, Chennai | 1989 |
Kanjirankulam Birds Sanctuary | 104.00 | Ramanathapuram | WLW, Ramad | 1989 |
Chitrangudi Birds Sanctuary | 47.63 | Ramanathapuram | WLW, Ramad | 1989 |
Koonthankulam-Kadankulam Birds Sanctuary | 129.00 | Tirunelveli | DFO, Tirunelveli | 1994 |
Vellode Birds Sanctuary | 77.18 | Erode | DFO, Erode | 1997 |
Vedanthangal Birds Sanctuary | 30.00 | Kancheepuram | WLW, Chennai | 1998 |
Udayamarthandpuram Birds Sanctuary | 45.28 | Tiruvarur | DFO, Tiruvarur | 1998 |
Melaselvanur-Kilaselvanur Birds Sanctuary | 593.08 | Ramanathapuram | WLW, Ramad | 1998 |
Vaduvoor birds Sanctuary | 128.10 | Tiruvarur | DFO, Tiruvarur | 1999 |
Karaivetti Birds Sanctuary | 453.71 | Ariyalur | DFO, Ariyalur | 2000 |
Theerthangal Bird Sanctury | 29.29 | Ramanathapuram | WLW, Ramad | 2010 |
Sakkarakottai Tank Birds Sanctuary | 230.49 | Ramanathapuram | WLW, Ramad | 2012 |
Oussudu Lake Birds Sanctuary | 331.785 | Villupuram | DFO, Villupuram | 2015 |
Total | 17666.155 | |||
NATIONAL PARKS | ||||
Guindy National Park | 270.57 | Chennai | WLW, Chennai | 1978 |
Gulf of Mannar Marine Park (21 Islands) Reserve Land - 623.12 Ha + Sea area - 51978.88 Ha | 52602 | Ramanathapuram & Tuticorin | WLW, Ramnad | 1986 |
Indira Gandhi National Park | 11710 | Coimbatore | CCF & FD, ATR, Pollachi | 1989 |
Mukurthi National Park | 7846 | Nilgiris | CCF & FD, MTR, Ooty | 2001 |
Mudumalai National Park | 10323 | Nilgiris | CCF & FD, MTR, Ooty | 2005 |
Total | 82751.57 | |||
CONSERVATION RESERVE | ||||
Thiruppudaimaruthur Birds Conservation Reserve | 2.84 | Tirunelveli | DFO, Tirunelveli | 2005 |
Suchindrum-Theroor –Managudi Conservation Reserve | 484.77 | Kanniyakumari | DFO, Kanniyakumari | 2015 |
Total | 487.61 |
ABSTRACT
S. No |
Sanctuary & National Parks |
Total Nos. |
Total area in Ha |
1 |
Wildlife Sanctuaries |
15 |
606389.657 |
2 |
Birds Sanctuaries |
15 |
17666.155 |
3 |
National Parks |
5 |
82751.570 |
4 |
Conservation Reserve |
2 |
487.610 |
Total |
|
707294.992 |
BIOSPHERE RESERVES IN TAMIL NADU
S. No | Name of Reserve | Area in Ha |
1 | Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve | 2,53,800 |
2 | Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve | 10,50,000 |
3 | Agasthiyarmalai Biosphere Reserve | 1,67,236 |
Total | 14,71,036 |
ELEPHANT RESERVES IN TAMIL NADU
Sl. No | Name of Elephant Reserve | District | Name of the Division. | Area(Ha) |
1. | Nilgiris – Eastern Ghat (Nilgiri Elephant Reserve) | Nilgiris Erode, Dharmapuri | Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Gudalur Forest Division, Nilgiris North Forest Division, Sathyamangalam Forest Division, Erode Forest Division, Dharmapuri Forest Division,, Hosur Forest Division, Nilgiris South Forest Division,. | 4,66,245 |
2. | Nilambur Silent Valley Coimbatore Elephant Reserve ( Nilambur Elephant Reserve ) | Coimbatore, Nilgiris | Coimbatore Forest Division,, Mukkuruthi National Park, Nilgiris South Forest Division,. | 56,557 |
3. | Periyar Elephant Reserve (Srivilliputhur Elephant Reserve) | Theni, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli | Srivilliputhur Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, Theni Forest Division, Tirunelveli Forest Division, | 1,24,910 |
4. | Anamalai – Parambikulam Elephant Reserve (Anamalai Elephant Reserve) | Coimbatore, Dindigul | Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Dindigul Forest Division, Kodaikanal Forest Division, | 1,45,723 |
TIGER RESERVES IN TAMIL NADU
S. No |
Name of Reserve |
Core area in sq. km |
Buffer area in sq. km |
Total area in sq. km |
1 |
895.00 |
706.542 |
1601.542 |
|
2 |
958.59 |
521.28 |
1479.87 |
|
3 |
321.00 |
367.59 |
688.59 |
|
4 |
793.493 |
614.912 |
1408.405 |
|
5 |
Srivilliputtur Megamalai Tiger Reserve |
641.862 |
374.709 |
1016.571 |
|
TOTAL |
3609.945 |
2585.033 |
6194.978 |
MANGROVES & CORAL REEFS
Sl. No. | Name of the Mangroves | Name of the Districts | Area in Ha |
1 | Muthupet | Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur | 11,885.91 |
2 | Pitchavaram | Villupuram | 1413.98 |
3 | Ramnad | Ramanathapuram | 582.07 |
Total | 13,881.96 |
Sl. No. | Name of the Coral Reefs | Name of the Districts | Total in Ha |
1 |
Coral Reefs in Gulf of Mannar |
Ramanathapuram |
56000 ha in 21 islands of Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park |
WETLANDS
S. No | Name of Wetlands | Districts | Area in Ha |
1 | Point Calimere | Nagappattanam | 38500 |
2 | Kazhuveli | Vilupuram | 7400 |
3 | Pallikkaranai | Chengalpattu | 690.53 |
Total | 46590.53 |
ESTIMATION
Tiger Population in Tamil Nadu was estimated as 229 during 2014 (National Tiger Conservation Authority)
Elephant Population in Tamil Nadu was estimated as 3987 during 2012 (Asian Nature Conservation Foundation, Tamil Nadu Forest Department and Indian Institute of Science, (Bangalore.)
CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF MARINE BIO-DIVERSITY IN THE GULF OF MANNAR:
The key coastal habitats in the Gulf of Mannar are coral reefs, sea grass and mangroves. These habitats are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. Marine ecosystems of Tamil Nadu, provides livelihoods to many local fishing communities in the Gulf of Mannar coast, besides acting as buffer to adjacent shorelines from strong waves, help prevent erosion, property damage and loss of life. The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust has added to the State’s effort in the conservation of marine biodiversity ensuring the livelihood security of the people along the coast line. To achieve significant improvement in the conservation of marine biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources in marine and coastal ecosystems of the State, the Forest Department envisages:
- Conservation and protection of marine biodiversity by promoting sustainable use and equitable sharing of marine resources.
- Enhance the quality of marine habitat with the help of local communities.
WILD ANIMALS COMMONLY INVOLVED IN HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICT
In Tamil Nadu, more commonly involved Wildlife in human-Wildlife conflicts, where the damage is caused to man and his property, are - elephants (Elephas maximus), tigers (Panthera tigris), leopards (Panthera pardus), wild pigs (Sus scrofa), Indian gaur (Bos gaurus), bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata), marsh crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris), peafowl (Pavo cristatus) etc., Whereas, on the other side of the human-Wildlife conflicts, almost all the Wildlife and their habitat are impacted by the human induced interruptions/interferences.
HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICT ZONES OF TAMIL NADU
Sl.No. | Name of the Elephant Reserve | Name of the Division | Intensity |
1. | Nilgiris Eastern Ghats (Nilgiri Elephant Reserve): | 1. Mudumalai Tiger Reserve | High |
2. Gudalur Forest Division | High | ||
3. Nilgiris North Forest Division | High | ||
4. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve | High | ||
5. Erode Forest Division | Medium | ||
6. Dharmapuri Forest Division | Medium | ||
7. Hosur Forest Division | High | ||
8. Nilgiris South Forest Division. | Medium | ||
2. | Nilambur - Silent Valley Coimbatore ( Nilambur Elephant Reserve): | 1. Coimbatore Division | High |
2. Mukurthi National Park | Low | ||
3. Nilgiris South Forest Division | Medium | ||
3. | Periyar (Srivilliputhur Elephant Reserve): | 1. Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary | Medium |
2. Theni Forest Division | Medium | ||
3. Tirunelveli Forest Division. | Medium | ||
4. | Anamalai - Parambikulam (Anamalai Elephant Reserve): | 1. Anamalai Tiger Reserve | High |
2. Dindigul Forest Division | Medium | ||
3. Kodaikanal Forest Division. | Medium |
Forest department have initiated measures that benefit both the wildlife and local human communities, enabling mutually beneficial co-existence. Many initiatives are targeted to address Human wildlife conflicts and its mitigation:
- Surveillance of vulnerable areas and monitoring of wildlife habitats.
- Mitigation measures to prevent Human wildlife conflicts
- GIS enabled information and technology driven system for monitoring of wildlife habitats to reduce human wildlife conflicts.
- Sensitizing the inhabitants and locals through modern tools and technologies.
- Timely distribution of benefits to win confidence of people.
- Protocols for the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife straying out of forest areas.
Strengthening the veterinary services for wildlife through Rapid Response Teams and Mobile Veterinary Units.
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from 01 - 04 - 2017 / Last Update On 25 - 04 - 2022