Mudumalai National Park

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Mudumalai National Park
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
BengalTiger in Mudumalai National Park.jpg
Bengal tiger in Mudumalai National Park
Map showing the location of Mudumalai National Park
Map showing the location of Mudumalai National Park
Coordinates11°35′N 76°33′E / 11.583°N 76.550°E / 11.583; 76.550Coordinates: 11°35′N 76°33′E / 11.583°N 76.550°E / 11.583; 76.550
Area321 km2 (124 sq mi)
Established1940
Websitewww.forests.tn.nic.in

Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, also a declared tiger reserve, lies in the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills in Nilgiri District, about 150 kilometres (93 mi) north-west of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, India. It shares boundaries with the states of Karnataka and Kerala. The sanctuary is divided into five ranges – Masinagudi, Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakotta. It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is one of the premiere tiger reserves in India alongside Nagarhole National Park, Bandipur National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.

The protected area is home to several endangered and vulnerable species including Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, gaur and Indian leopard. With a population of 103, Mudumalai has the largest population of tigers in Tamil Nadu. There are at least 266 species of birds in the sanctuary, including critically endangered Indian white-rumped vulture and long-billed vulture.[1]

The Western Ghats Nilgiri Sub-Cluster of 6,000 square kilometres (2,300 sq mi), including all of Mudumalai National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.[2]

Onset of monsoon, Mudumalai & Nilgiri Mountains, June 2016

History[edit]

Photo of three deer in Mudumalai during the 1940s

The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1940, the second oldest national park in India. The National Park covers an area of 217.76 km2 (84.08 sq mi) with the Wildlife Sanctuary covering an additional 103.23 km2 (39.86 sq mi), for a total area of area of 321 km2 (124 sq mi).[3]

In April 2007, the Government of Tamil Nadu declared Mudumalai National Park as a tiger reserve under section 38V of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, in an effort to conserve the country's dwindling tiger population. Subsequently, about 350 families living in the core area were evicted from the park and given ₹ 1 million compensation. Those in the 5-km buffer area around the park fear they, too, will be evicted; nobody will be dislodged from the buffer zone. In fact, some people in this zone will become trackers and guides to enhance their income through eco-tourism.[4]

This is a "quality" image Moyar Falls in Mudumalai National Park

Project Tiger in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve has been extended annually with funding from the Government of India and the Government of Tamil Nadu.[5] Most recently, Project Tiger has been extended for 2020–21 with funding of ₹ 114.1 million, with 52.8% borne by the Government of India and the balance by the Government of Tamil Nadu.[6] The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is headed by a field director. The first field director was Rajiv K. Srivastava, appointed in 2008.[7] The current incumbent is D. Venkatesh, who took charge in August 2021.[8]

Flora[edit]

Moist forest after the rains

The dominant type of habitat found in the Mudumalai National Park is Tropical moist forest. Tropical dry forest and scrub forests are also found here. In addition there are patches of tropical semi-evergreen forest in the southwest and western part of Mudumalai. The annual rainfall there exceeds 2,000 mm (79 in). Tree species in this habitat include Cassaria ovoides, Litsea mysorensis, Cinnamomum malabatrum and Olea dioca. Climbers including sneeze wort (Dregea volubilis), Gnetum ula and Entada scandens are also found in these semi-evergreen forests.

This is a "quality" image Dry forest near Theppakadu during summer
Riparian forest

Moist bamboo brakes are found amidst dry deciduous, moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests and along the fringes of riparian forests and swamps. There are two species of bamboo found in Mudumalai, the giant clumping bamboos: Bambusa (arundinacea) and Dendrocalamus strictus. Elephants and gaur eat both species of bamboo. In all types of forest, a green strip of riparian forest is seen along the shore of dry seasonal and perennial streams. This type of forest remains green in all seasons. The plant species found here includes: Mangifera indica, Pongamia glabra, Terminalia arjuna, Syzygium cumini, Indian rosewood Dalbergia latifolia and the bamboos. Larger mammals such as elephant, gaur, sambar and tiger use riparian forest patches for feeding and resting. This sanctuary is home to several species of wild relatives of cultivated plants including wild rice, wild ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, solanum, guava, mango and pepper that act as a reserve gene pool for the cultivated plants.[9] In places mixed vegetation types are present. The deciduous trees shed their green leaves during the summer, and adopt a floral garb while the arrival of the monsoons hails fruits and tender greens.[10]

Fauna[edit]

There is a high diversity of animal life in the sanctuary with about 50 species of fishes, 21 species of amphibians, 34 species of reptiles, 227 species of birds and 55 species of mammals. Mammal diversity is higher in the moist deciduous and evergreen forests than in the other habitats. Thirteen percent of all mammal species in India are present in Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary.

Mammal species[9] found in India in Mudumalai their percentage in Mudumalai
Order # species in India # species in MWS % species in MWS
Primates 15 320.0
Even-toed ungulates (deer, gaur, pig) 34 7 20.5
Proboscidea (elephant) 1 1 100.0
Carnivora (tiger, leopard, sloth bear) 58 19 32.7
Pholidota (ant eater) 2 1 50.0
Lagomorpha (black-napped hare) 11 1 9.1
Insectivora (shrew) 3 2 66.7
Rodentia (rats, squirrel) 102 14 13.7
Chiroptera (bats) 113 7 6.2

Of the 15 cat species in India, four live in Mudumalai: Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, jungle cat and leopard cat. Tigers are the Apex predators in Mudumalai. There are documentations of a few indigenous tribes worshipping tigers as gods. A 2018 report lists 162 tigers using the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, of which 103 were resident. Mudumalai is part of the Nagarhole-Bandipur-Wayanad-Mudumalai-Satyamangalam-BRT block in the Western Ghats. This block has the largest contiguous tiger population in the world of about 724 tigers.[11] This population exists at high density due to the high density of prey species thriving in its Evergreen forests.[12]

The Indian leopard (P. pardus fusca) (NT) is most often seen in the Kargudi area. Other carnivores include the dhole (Cuon alpinus), golden jackal (Canis aureus) and the sloth bear (Melursus ursinus). The population of Indian elephants, Elephas maximus indicus totals several hundred animals. Three primates present include the gray langur (Semnopithecus priam), Lion tailed macaque (Macaca silensus) and the bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata). Important prey animals for large carnivores here are the ungulates including gaur (Bos gaurus), sambar deer (Cervus unicolor), chital deer (Axis axis), Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak), Indian spotted chevrotain (Moschiola indica) and wild boar (Sus scrofa). Rodents include Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica maxima) and red giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista).[citation needed]

Some reptiles present are python, flying lizard, spectacled cobra, mugger crocodile, common krait and Asian pit vipers.[13] The Bengal monitor is the most regularly observed species.[citation needed]

Avifauna[edit]

Eight percent of bird species in India occur in Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary. Among the 227 bird species in Mudumalai, 110 species are insectivores, 62 are carnivores, 23 species are fishivores, 12 species are omnivores and 20 species are granivores. These include the unique near threatened black-and-orange flycatcher. Regional endemics include Malabar trogon and Malabar grey hornbill. Some rare birds of prey like the rufous-bellied eagle can occasionally be seen in this sanctuary. Other predatory birds include crested serpent eagle, changeable hawk eagle, black eagle, Oriental honey-buzzard, Jerdon's baza, Bonelli's eagle, crested goshawk, besra, mottled wood owl and brown hawk owl, and several minivets.[citation needed]

There are also hornbill, golden oriole, chloropsis, paradise flycatcher, golden-backed woodpecker Malabar great black woodpecker, blue-winged parakeet, fairy bluebird, jungle fowl racket-tailed drongo, peafowl, red spurfowl, grey francolin, painted spurfowl, painted bush quail, white-bellied woodpecker, lesser yellownape, golden woodpecker, streak-throated woodpecker, white-throated kingfisher, emerald dove, green imperial pigeon, grey-fronted green pigeon, grey-bellied cuckoo, Indian cuckoo, Indian jungle crow, red-wattled lapwing, Indian pond heron, alpine swift, black-hooded oriole, greater racket-tailed drongo, black-headed cuckooshrike, grey-headed bulbul, forest wagtail, white-browed wagtail, crimson-backed sunbird and Loten's sunbird. It also holds the isolated southern population of the striped tit-babbler.[13][14]

Threats[edit]

Lantana is an invasive plant
Elephant stops and crushes a car moving through the outskirts of Mudumalai

Tourism, especially in the Sigur/Masinagudi area, is claimed by some to pose a threat to the region, but this is strongly repudiated by persons who live and work in the area.[15][16] The extensive growth of invasive species such as lantana hinder the natural regeneration process of the forests and has occurred as a result of excessive cattle grazing.[10]

In January 2021, staff at a resort in the Masinagudi area threw a burning tire against an elephant after it damaged a luxury car. This resulted in the death of the elephant and caused widespread condemnation against this act.[17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary". Conservation database. Bangalore: Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment Eco-Informatics Centre. Archived from the original on 24 December 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2009.
  2. ^ UNESCO, World Heritage sites, Tentative lists, Western Ghats sub cluster, Ooty. retrieved 20 April 2007 World Heritage sites, Tentative lists
  3. ^ "Mudumalai National Park and Sanctuary". Forest Department, Government of Tamilnadu. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  4. ^ Murari, S. (31 December 2008). "Thousands Protest Against Indian Tiger Reserve". Planet Ark. Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  5. ^ Rajesh Gopal, APCCF (PT) and Member Secretary (NTCA) (31 August 2010), "Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme 'Project Tiger' Administrative Approval for funds release to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu during 2010–11" (PDF), No. 4-1(32)/2010-PT, New Delhi: National Tiger Conservation Authority, archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2011, retrieved 2 February 2011
  6. ^ Environment and Forests (FR.5) Department, Govt of Tamilnadu, Sandeep Saxena, Add'l Chief Secretary to the Government (9 October 2020). "Forests - Wildlife -- Centrally Sponsored Scheme -- Implementation of Project Tiger Scheme in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve for the year 2020-21-- Release of 1st Installment amount of Rs. 570.676 lakhs -- Orders issued" (PDF). Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  7. ^ RAVICHANDRAN, B. (27 July 2018). "Perfect 10 for Mudumalai Tiger Reserve". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  8. ^ Staff Reporter (18 August 2021). "Coimbatore Forest Division, ATR get new officers". The Hindu. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  9. ^ a b Dogra, IFS, Rakesh Kumar, Wildlife Warden, Plan for Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park (2007–08 to 2016–17) Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Mount Stuart Hill, Udhagamandalam-643 001, Tamil Nadu, India
  10. ^ a b "Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary". Sanctuary Asia. 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2009.
  11. ^ Jhala, Y.V.; Qureshi, Q.; Nayak, A.K., eds. (2020). Status of Tigers, Copredators & Prey in India, 2018 (PDF). National Tiger Conservation Authority, Government of India, New Delhi, and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. pp. 33, 41. ISBN 81-85496-50-1.
  12. ^ Qureshi Q.; Sankar, K.; Gopal, R.; Jhala, Y.V. (2008). "Western Ghats Landscape Complex/Tamil Nadu" (PDF). Status of Tigers, Copredators & Prey in India, 2006. National Tiger Conservation Authority Ministry of Environment & Forests and Wildlife Institute of India. pp. 72–94. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2013.
  13. ^ a b "MUDUMALAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY & NATIONAL PARK". Wild Biodiversity. TamilNadu forest Department. Archived from the original on 9 April 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
  14. ^ Praveen J., Job K. Joseph & Nick Lethaby (2004) Sighting of Yellow-breasted Babbler Macronous gularis in South India. Newsletter for Ornithologists 1(3):43 PDF Archived 17 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Palaniappan, V. S.; Sudhakar, P. (2016). "Pros and cons of notification on tiger reserves". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  16. ^ Suvarna, Prajwal; Raghunath, Arjun (9 February 2021). "Illicit tourism extracts its cost from nature". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  17. ^ Abraham, Bobins (23 January 2021). "Wild Elephant Killed in TN After Resort Staff Threw Burning Tyre at It. What Is Wrong With Us?". India Times. Retrieved 28 March 2021.

Further reading[edit]

  • B. (1986). Mudumalai Sanctuary. India's wildlife and wildlife reserves. Sterling Publishers, New Delhi.
  • Sharma, B.D., Shetty, B.V., Virekananthan, K. and Rathakrishnan, N.C. (1978). Flora of Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamil Nadu. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 75: 13–42.
  • Plan for Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park (2007–08 to 2016–17)

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mudumalai_National_Park&oldid=1044112443"