The topic of recent discussions is the rejuvenation camp for captive elephants that took place in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR). Located in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris District, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve sits at the intersection of three states: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. An integral part of the country’s first Biosphere Reserve, the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, it stands alongside other renowned reserves such as the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley.
About The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Named after its ancient hills, “Mudumalai” translates to “the ancient hill range”. Notably, the region has an age-old history dating back 65 million years when the Western Ghats were formed. The reserve is famous for its unique Flora and Fauna. Predominantly present within the reserve are tall grasses, also referred to as ‘Elephant Grass’. Among the other valuable species of Flora found are the giant variety of Bamboo, Teak and Rosewood, together with several endemic species.
The Fauna of Mudumalai
When it comes to Fauna, the flagship species residing in Mudumalai are Tigers and Asian Elephants. Other inhabitants include Indian Gaur, Spotted Deer, Common Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Wild Dog and Jungle Cat, among others. A haven for bird lovers, the reserve boasts of more than 260 different species of birds, including the rare Malabar grey hornbill, Malabar pied hornbill, and Malabar laughing thrush. Overall, 8% of bird species native to India are recorded in Mudumalai.
Other Tamil Nadu Tiger Reserves
Tamil Nadu houses several other important Tiger reserves. These include the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) and the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR).
Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, located in the Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari District, boasts of diverse vegetation ranging from dry thorn forest to dry deciduous. It became the nation’s first Tiger Sanctuary in 1962, even before tiger conservation became a national focus. In 1976, the region was declared as the Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary mainly for the conservation of the Lion Tailed Macaque. With 14 rivers, including River Thamirabarani originating from it, KMTR is popularly known as River Sanctuary.
Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) lies at the confluence of the Western and Eastern Ghats. It holds a significant population of tigers and is contiguous to other prominent Tiger conservation landscapes like BRT, Bandipur, Mudumalai and Nagarahole. An integral part of Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats Elephant Reserve, STR is noted for its rich diversity of flora and fauna. Apart from Tigers, it provides shelter to an array of animals, including Elephants, Gaur, Black Buck, Four Horned Antelope, White Backed Vulture, and many more species.
Last Modified: February 7, 2024