Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

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  ?Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Kerala • India
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Coordinates: 10°18′00″N 77°10′30″E / 10.3, 77.175
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
Elevation
90.44 km² (35 sq mi)
• 2,372 m (7,782 ft)
Climate
Precipitation
Temperature
• Summer
• Winter

• 500 mm (19.7 in)

• 38 °C (100 °F)
• 12 °C (54 °F)
Nearest city Marayoor
District(s)   Idukki
Established August 1984
Visitation # Year
Governing body Department of Forests and Wildlife
Website: http://chinnar.org/

Coordinates: 10°18′00″N 77°10′30″E / 10.3, 77.175 Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located 18 km north of Marayoor in the Marayoor and Kanthalloor Panchayats of Devikulam Taluk in the Idukki District of Kerala state in South India. It is under the jurisdiction of and contiguous with Eravikulam National Park to the south. Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is to the northwest and Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary is to the east. It is one of twelve Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kerala.[1] The Western Ghats, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, including all of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.[2]

[edit] Geography

River Pambar
River Pambar
Thoovanam Waterfalls
Thoovanam Waterfalls
Information board at Chinnar Checkpost
Information board at Chinnar Checkpost

Location is between Latitude 10º15' - 10º21' N and Longitude 77º5' - 77º16' E. [3] See:map. The MunnarUdumalpet road (SH-17) passes through the Sanctuary for 16 km. and roughly divides it into nearly equal portions. The altitude ranges from 400 m at Chinnar to 2372 m at Nandalamala. Major Peaks in the Sanctuary are Kottakombu malai (2144 m), Vellaikal malai (1863 m) and Viriyoottu malai (1845m). Average annual rainfall is only 500 mm, the lowest rainfall of any place in Kerala, because it is in the rain shadow region of the southern Western Ghats. The forest types comprise thorny scrub forests, dry deciduous forest, high sholas and wet grasslands.[4]

The Chinnar and Pambar rivers are the major perennial water resources in the sanctuary. The Pambar River originates in the Anaimudi Hills, traverses the Turner’s Valley in Eravikulam National Park and flows down into the Sanctuary through the Taliar Valley between Kanthalloor and Marayoor Villages and eastwards through the sanctuary. The Pambar, Kabani and Bhavani are the only rivers of the 44 in Kerala that flow eastwards. It is joined by seasonal rivulets and a few perennial streams originating from sholas in the upper reaches. The spectacular Thoovanam water falls lie deep within the Sanctuary on the Pambar River. This breathtaking cascade is a major tourist attraction. The Pambar merges with the Chinnar at Koottar.

The Chinnar follows the interstate boundary along the northwest edge of the sanctuary and becomes the Amaravati River in Tamil Nadu, reaches the Amaravathi Reservoir and Dam and eventually joins the Kaveri River near Karur.

[edit] Settlements and crops

There are 11 tribal settlements inside the Chinnar WLS, each is well demarcated by temporary stone walls. The main inhabitants are Muthuvas and Pulayars. Cultivation of maize, ragi and lemongrass is practiced in the settlements. The Mudhuvas carry out small scale ganja cultivation for their religious purposes.[5]

[edit] Fauna

34 species of Mammals live here, including many Panthers and Spotted deer, 50 -60 Indian Elephants, Gaur, Tigers, Sambar Deer, Common langur, Bonnet Macaque, Hanuman monkey, threatened Nilgiri Tahr, vulnerable Rusty-spotted Cats and about 240 of the only vulnerable Grizzled Giant Squirrels in Kerala. 245 species of birds including Yellow-throated Bulbuls. 52 species of reptiles including 29 species of snakes, Indian Star Tortoise and the largest population of vulnerable Mugger Crocodiles in Kerala live in the Sanctuary. Most common of the 42 species of fishes observed in the Chinnar and Pambar rivers are Garra mullya minnows, River-carp baril,Giant Danio and the endangered hill stream game fish Deccan Mahseer. 22 amphibian species live in the Sanctuary. There are 156 species of butterflies.

[edit] Flora

View of Chinnar montane rain forest
View of Chinnar montane rain forest

There are 965 species of flowering plants in the sanctuary.[6]

Ecoregions of the sanctuary comprise mostly grassland and wet grasslands vegetation and some South Western Ghats montane rain forests and high shola at the higher western elevations. South Western Ghats moist deciduous forestss at mid elevations give way to dry deciduous forests and thorny scrub forests in the lower dryer eastern edges of the valley. The major Xerophyticspecies in the throny scrub forests are Acacia arabica, Acacia leucofolia, Acacia concinna, Prosporis juliflora, and Opuntia stricta.

The Marayoor Sandalwood forest is located here.[7], [8]

[edit] Visitor information

Chinnar Watchtower
Chinnar Watchtower

Eco-tourism is promoted and organized jointly by the Forest Department and the Eco Development Committees (EDCs) of the local tribal communities, the objective is to empower latter and involve them in the conservation of the forest ecosystem.

Trek paths most commonly used are the Chinnar – Chullipetty and Chinnar – Koottar. Trekking to the Dolmens, the megalithic burial sites of tribal communities in Alampatti, can be arranged. Daytime sighting of crocodiles and boars is possible while hiking along the riverside. The trail will also take you to the enchanting Thoovanam falls and to the watchtower in Jellimalai.

The lofty Chinnar Watch Tower has a panoramic view of the entire sanctuary, and beyond to the jungles of Tamil Nadu to the east and the majestic hills of the Western Ghats in all directions. The watch tower is accessible to the public with the permission of the forest department. The watchtower is a 20-minute walk from the Chinnar check post. A fee of Rs. 15 per person is collected at the tower. A Forest guard and tourist guide accompanies visitors. The guide charges Rs. 100 a day.[9]

Accommodations are available in three suites at the Forest guesthouse for Rs. 400 per room without food. Treetop machans, arranged by the Forest Department, cost Rs. 1,000 for an overnight stay for two. Camping overnight in tribal huts at Vasyappara gives opportunities to sight elephants, peacocks, langur, deer and the giant squirrel. Camping at the Vasyappara huts cost Rs. 2,000 (including dinner, night stay and breakfast). The Forest Department also arranges accommodation at log houses in Churlipatti. Dormitory facilities are also available at Chinnar. However visitiors must be warned that there are no means of buying anything to eat or drink at chinnar except the odd pack of milk biscuits and afew bottles of water. [10]

Contact: The Wildlife Warden, Munnar division, Munnar-685612. Ph: 04865-231587; Email: enpmunnar@sify.com or: The Wildlife Warden, Idukki Wildlife Division, Idukki, Vellapara, Painavu P.O, Kerala-686 603, phone: 0486-232271 or: The Assistant Wildlife Warden, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Marayoor P.O. via , Munnar, Idukki District, Kerala.

[edit] Regional Cooperation

Contiguous protected areas like Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary will benefit from Regional cooperation. Senior officials of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (India), Principal Chief Conservators of Forests of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, together with other senior forest officials of these states and the Union Territory of Pondicherry, met at Thiruvananthapuram on November 3 and 4, 2006 and resolved several mutual issues concerning conservation and protection of forests and wildlife of the region.

This formalization of interstate cooperation on protected areas administration will improve effectiveness in the areas of daily staff communication including common wireless frequencies, joint enforcement action, boundary survey and demarcation, management of cross border resources like Biosphere Reserves, National Parks, Tiger reserves and Wildlife Sanctuaries, technology, staff and intelligence sharing and coordinated communication with the Govt. of India. A regular conference of the Forest Ministers and forest officials of the southern states will now be held once a year, in rotation in each State. The next meeting will be held at Bangalore in 2007. [11]


[edit] References

  1. ^ Kerala Forest department, SANCTUARIES AND NATIONAL PARKS IN KERALA
  2. ^ UNESCO, World Heritage sites, Tentative lists, Western Ghats sub cluster, Niligiris. retrieved 4/20/2007 World Heritage sites, Tentative lists
  3. ^ Centre for Environment & Development (2004) Forest Fire Forecasting in Western Ghats, IndiaChinnar wildlife sanctuary
  4. ^ Government of Kerala, Information & Public Relations Department, CHINNAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
  5. ^ CED Chinnar wildlife sanctuary
  6. ^ Department of Forests and Wildlife
  7. ^ idukki.com, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
  8. ^ keralatourism.org, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
  9. ^ RAO,SUBHA J., The Hindu, Dec 03, 2005Tower with a view
  10. ^ (Dec 23, 2006) The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, the Hindu, retrieved 7/21/2007 sanctuary spotlight
  11. ^ CONFERENCE OF THE FOREST MINISTERS OF SOUTHERN STATES, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 3 – 4 November 2006 Forest Ministers Resolution
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