Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary

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  ?Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary
Tamil Nadu • India
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
Blackbuck Antelope
Blackbuck Antelope
Coordinates: 8°42′12″N 77°56′18″E / 8.70333, 77.93833
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area 16.41 km² (6 sq mi)
Climate
• Precipitation
• 758 mm (29.8 in)
Nearest city Tirunelveli
District(s) Thoothukudi
Keystone species Black Buck Antelope
Governing body Tamil Nadu Forest Department
Website: Wild Biodiversity

Coordinates: 8°42′12″N 77°56′18″E / 8.70333, 77.93833

Vallanadu Wildlife Sanctuary is a Protected area of Tamil Nadu in South India created for the protection of Blackbuck Antelope. Located on an isolated hillock in Vallanadu Village of Srivaikundam Taluk, it is the southernmost place in India where a natural population of Blackbuck exists.

Contents

[edit] Flora

The sanctuary is a South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forest. The thorny hardwood and xerophytes: Dalbergia multiflora, Dichrostachys cinerea, Acacia latronum, Acacia planifrons, Albizia amara, Zizyphus sp. and a few Azadirachta indica, Dodonia viscosa, Carissa carandus, Pterolobium indicum and Euphorbia Acalypha fruticosa, Ocimum sanctum, species form the under growth.

[edit] Fauna

Black buck, Spotted deer, macaques, Jungle cat,Monkeys, Wild cat, Mongoose, Black naped Hare, Scaly Ant eater- Pangolin, Viper and Rat snake live here.

Peacock, Heron, Stork, Grey partridges, Jungle Craws, Common quails, Pied crested Cuckoo, Crested-hawk Eagle, Black-winged Kite, Curlew, Lapwing, Nightjar, Sparrows, Horned owl, and nearly 100 other species of birds are found in the area.

The Blackbuck population is around 20-40. Thick acacia growth makes it difficult to determine a precise population count. The Blackbucks regularily come out of the scrubs and graze in wastelands on the eastern side of the the sanctuary. [1]

[edit] Visitor information

In 2007 Rs. 7 lakh, earmarked under the Centre's "Development of Sanctuaries" scheme will be spent to repair fencing, increase the height of a watchtower by 14 metres, improve the water supply and erect awareness boards. Also, fruit-yielding Ficus infectoria tree saplings will be planted to attract more birds. [2]

Nearest airport is at Madurai – 165 km away. Nearest Railway station is Tirunelveli Junction – 20 km away.

The sanctuary is administered by L. Nadhan, The district Forest Officer, Tirunelveli Division, Kokirakulam, Tirunelveli – 627 009. [1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b TFD (2007), VALLANADU BLACK BUCK SANCTUARY, Tamil Nadu Forest Department, <http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/ws_vbs.html> 
  2. ^ Vimal Kumar R. (Dec 22, 2006) Biodiversity: Plan to educate people Retrrieved 5/11/2007 Blackbuck sanctuary
 This Tamil Nadu location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

location: 14 km from Tirunelveli, and 50km from Tuticoring district

Nearest airport: Vahaikulam, Tuticorin airport (3km only)