Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
Encyclopedia
Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), situated in the Southern Western Ghats
in Tirunelveli district
, in the South India
n state
of Tamil Nadu
, is the second largest protected area in Tamil Nadu State.
, added to the reserve in April 1996, is pending. A 400 km² (154.4 sq mi) core area of this reserve has been proposed as a National Park
Continuance of Project Tiger’ in Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve for FY 2010/11, at the cost of Rs.194.33 Lakh
s, was approved by the National Tiger Conservation Authority
on 28 August 2010.
Town. See:page 15, map
The Reserve forms the catchment area for 14 rivers and streams. Among them the Tambraparani, Ramanadi, Karayar, Servalar, Manimuthar, Pachayar, Kodaiyar, Kadnar, Kallar form the back-bone of the irrigation network and drinking water for people of Tirunelveli, Turicorin and part of Kanyakumari district. Sever major dams - Karaiyar, Lower Dam, Servalar, Manimuthar, Ramanadi, Kadnanadi and Kodaiyar - owe their existence to these rivers.
The reserve spans a range of 40 to 1,800 m in elevation. Agasthiyamalai (1681 m.), is in the core zone of the Reserve.
and endemism in India IUCN. The Western Ghats
, Agasthyamalai Sub-Cluster, including all of Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, is under consideration by the UNESCO
World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site
.
The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) has developed and implemented a conservation
intervention program in KMTR to decrease local villagers' dependency on the forests for fuel and build community awareness about the value of biodiversity
in the area.
"Agasthya" is the KMTR newsletter
including updates on research projects and staff activities at KMTR. Contents of the first issue include: A Sanctuary for Cycas
circinalis, Tiger Almost, Round in Agasthyamalai in Fourteen Days, Corridors - It is Just Not for the Four Legged Furry Creatures, Behaviour and Movement of Nilgiri Langur
in the Upper Kodayar Range — KMTR,
Canopy
News, Agasthya Village commons and backyards to meet the biomass
requirements: An Experiment with Panchayat Raj and Women Collective
s, Bi-Lingual Field Guide Test Run, Snippets from the Field, Cullenia
exarillata: A Keystone Species for Birds?, Tea, Tiger and Oranges .
Tigers are also protected in Tamil Nadu at: Mudumalai National Park
, Indira Gandhi National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
, Mukurthi National Park
and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
s N.A, Leopard
s N.A, Jungle Cat
s 1755, Wild Dogs
1718, Elephant
s N.A, Gaur
232, Sambar 1302, Chital
1966, Nilgiri Tahr
N.A, Wild Pigs 187, Mouse Deer 172, Sloth Bear
s N.A, Lion-tailed Macaque
37, Bonnet Macaque
61, Nilgiri langur
61, Common langur 61, Slender loris
61, Giant Squirrel 61, Crocodile
N.A.
Habitat use by Grey Junglefowl
(Gallus sonneratii) at Mundanthurai plateau, Tamil Nadu, was investigated from
December 1987 to March 1988.
A comprehensive report on the history, flora & fauna, ecology and future of the reserve: "The Kalakad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve: A global heritage of biological diversity" by A. J. T. Johnsingh, Wildlife Institute of India
(2001) is available. and
South Western Ghats montane rain forests
The South Western Ghats montane rain forests are an ecoregion of southern India, covering the southern portion of the Western Ghats range in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, at elevations over 1000 meters...
in Tirunelveli district
Tirunelveli District
Tirunelveli District is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Tirunelveli is the district headquarters. A unique feature of this district is that it encompasses all five geographical traditions of Tamil Literature; kurinji , mullai , marudham , neithal and palai...
, in the South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, is the second largest protected area in Tamil Nadu State.
History
This reserve was created in 1988 by combining Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary (251 km²) and Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary (567 km²), both established in 1962. Notification of 77 km² of parts of Veerapuli and Kilamalai Reserve Forests in adjacent Kanyakumari districtKanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District ) is a district of Tamil Nadu state, India and is the southernmost land area of mainland India.The district is the second most urbanised district in Tamilnadu, next only to Chennai and ahead of Coimbatore. It also has the highest literacy and education levels in the...
, added to the reserve in April 1996, is pending. A 400 km² (154.4 sq mi) core area of this reserve has been proposed as a National Park
National parks of India
This is a list of all national parks of India. India's first national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, now known as Jim Corbett National Park. By 1970, India only had five national parks...
Continuance of Project Tiger’ in Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve for FY 2010/11, at the cost of Rs.194.33 Lakh
Lakh
A lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand . It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and is often used in Indian English.-Usage:...
s, was approved by the National Tiger Conservation Authority
National Tiger Conservation Authority
The National Tiger Conservation Authority was established in December 2005 following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime Minister of India for reorganized management of Project Tiger...
on 28 August 2010.
Geography
Location is between latitude 8° 25’ and 8° 53’ N and longitude 77° 10’ and 77° 35’ E. This is about 45 km west of TirunelveliTirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
Town. See:page 15, map
The Reserve forms the catchment area for 14 rivers and streams. Among them the Tambraparani, Ramanadi, Karayar, Servalar, Manimuthar, Pachayar, Kodaiyar, Kadnar, Kallar form the back-bone of the irrigation network and drinking water for people of Tirunelveli, Turicorin and part of Kanyakumari district. Sever major dams - Karaiyar, Lower Dam, Servalar, Manimuthar, Ramanadi, Kadnanadi and Kodaiyar - owe their existence to these rivers.
The reserve spans a range of 40 to 1,800 m in elevation. Agasthiyamalai (1681 m.), is in the core zone of the Reserve.
Conservation
KMTR forms part of the inter-state (Kerala and Tamil Nadu) Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. This part of Agastya Malai hills in the core of KMTR is considered one of the five centres of biodiversityBiodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
and endemism in India IUCN. The Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
, Agasthyamalai Sub-Cluster, including all of Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, is under consideration by the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) has developed and implemented a conservation
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife conservation is the preservation, protection, or restoration of wildlife and their environment, especially in relation to endangered and vulnerable species. All living non-domesticated animals, even if bred, hatched or born in captivity, are considered wild animals. Wildlife represents all...
intervention program in KMTR to decrease local villagers' dependency on the forests for fuel and build community awareness about the value of biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
in the area.
"Agasthya" is the KMTR newsletter
Newsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
including updates on research projects and staff activities at KMTR. Contents of the first issue include: A Sanctuary for Cycas
Cycas
Cycas is the type genus and the only genus currently recognised in the cycad family Cycadaceae. About 95 species are currently accepted. The best-known species is Cycas revoluta, widely cultivated under the name "Sago Palm" or "King Sago Palm" due to its palm-like appearance although it is not a...
circinalis, Tiger Almost, Round in Agasthyamalai in Fourteen Days, Corridors - It is Just Not for the Four Legged Furry Creatures, Behaviour and Movement of Nilgiri Langur
Nilgiri Langur
The Nilgiri langur is a lutung found in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats in South India. Its range also includes Kodagu in Karnataka,Kodayar Hills in Tamil Nadu and many other hilly areas in Kerala and Tamil nadu. This primate has glossy black fur on its body and golden brown fur on its head...
in the Upper Kodayar Range — KMTR,
Canopy
Canopy (forest)
In biology, the canopy is the aboveground portion of a plant community or crop, formed by plant crowns.For forests, canopy also refers to the upper layer or habitat zone, formed by mature tree crowns and including other biological organisms .Sometimes the term canopy is used to refer to the extent...
News, Agasthya Village commons and backyards to meet the biomass
Biomass
Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel....
requirements: An Experiment with Panchayat Raj and Women Collective
Collective
A collective is a group of entities that share or are motivated by at least one common issue or interest, or work together on a specific project to achieve a common objective...
s, Bi-Lingual Field Guide Test Run, Snippets from the Field, Cullenia
Cullenia
Cullenia is a genus of flowering plants native to India and Sri Lanka. Earlier classification schemes place the genus in the Kapok-tree family , but the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group places it in the Malva family ....
exarillata: A Keystone Species for Birds?, Tea, Tiger and Oranges .
Tigers are also protected in Tamil Nadu at: Mudumalai National Park
Mudumalai National Park
The Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary Tamil:முதுமலை வனவிலங்கு காப்பகம், now also declared a Tiger Reserve, lies on the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills , in Nilgiri District, about north-west of Coimbatore in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu, on the interstate boundaries with...
, Indira Gandhi National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
Indira Gandhi National Park
Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a protected area named after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who visited the park on October 7, 1961. It is often called "Topslip", a village in the northeast corner of the park which is the main visitor center. This name is derived from the local...
, Mukurthi National Park
Mukurthi National Park
Mukurthi National Park is a 78.46 km² protected area located in the south-eastern corner of the Nilgiris Plateau west of Ootacamund hill station in the northwest corner of Tamil Nadu state in the Western Ghats mountain range of South India...
and Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
Flora & fauna
KMTR has at least 150 endemic plants, 33 fish, 37 amphibian, 81 reptile, 273 bird and 77 mammal species. A 1997 Census by Project Tiger counted the following wildlife: TigerBengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
s N.A, Leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
s N.A, Jungle Cat
Jungle Cat
The jungle cat is a medium-sized cat and considered the largest remaining species of the wild cat genus Felis. The species is also called the swamp lynx but is not closely related to the lynxes....
s 1755, Wild Dogs
Dhole
The dhole is a species of canid native to South and Southeast Asia. It is the only extant member of the genus Cuon, which differs from Canis by the reduced number of molars and greater number of teats...
1718, Elephant
Indian Elephant
The Indian Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
s N.A, Gaur
Gaur
The gaur , also called Indian bison, is a large bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986 as the population decline in parts of the species' range is likely to be well over 70% over the last three generations...
232, Sambar 1302, Chital
Chital
The chital or cheetal , also known as chital deer, spotted deer or axis deer is a deer which commonly inhabits wooded regions of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and in small numbers in Pakistan...
1966, Nilgiri Tahr
Nilgiri Tahr
The Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiritragus hylocrius, known locally as the Nilgiri Ibex or simply Ibex, is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in southern India. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu...
N.A, Wild Pigs 187, Mouse Deer 172, Sloth Bear
Sloth Bear
The sloth bear , also known as the labiated bear, is a nocturnal insectivorous species of bear found wild within the Indian subcontinent. The sloth bear evolved from ancestral brown bears during the Pleistocene and shares features found in insect-eating mammals through convergent evolution...
s N.A, Lion-tailed Macaque
Lion-tailed Macaque
The lion-tailed macaque is an Old World monkey that is endemic to the Western Ghats of South India.-Physical Characteristics:...
37, Bonnet Macaque
Bonnet Macaque
The bonnet macaque is a macaque endemic to southern India. Its distribution is limited by the Indian Ocean on three sides and the Godavari and Tapti Rivers along with a related competing species of rhesus macaque in the north....
61, Nilgiri langur
Nilgiri Langur
The Nilgiri langur is a lutung found in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats in South India. Its range also includes Kodagu in Karnataka,Kodayar Hills in Tamil Nadu and many other hilly areas in Kerala and Tamil nadu. This primate has glossy black fur on its body and golden brown fur on its head...
61, Common langur 61, Slender loris
Slender loris
The slender lorises are two species of loris native to India and Sri Lanka, the only members of the genus Loris:* the red slender loris, Loris tardigradus* the gray slender loris, Loris lydekkerianus...
61, Giant Squirrel 61, Crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
N.A.
Habitat use by Grey Junglefowl
Grey Junglefowl
The Grey Junglefowl , also known as Sonnerat's Junglefowl, is a wild relative of domestic fowl that is endemic to India. This species is found mainly in peninsular India and where it overlaps with the distribution of the Red Junglefowl, it is known to form hybrids...
(Gallus sonneratii) at Mundanthurai plateau, Tamil Nadu, was investigated from
December 1987 to March 1988.
A comprehensive report on the history, flora & fauna, ecology and future of the reserve: "The Kalakad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve: A global heritage of biological diversity" by A. J. T. Johnsingh, Wildlife Institute of India
Wildlife Institute of India
The Wildlife Institute of India is a autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.WII carries out wildlife research in areas of study like Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Wildlife Policy, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Forensics, Spatial Modeling,...
(2001) is available. and