Tiger Reserves In India

Tamil Nadu Annamalai Tiger Reserve

Introduction

The Annamalai Tiger Reserve is a (Indira Gandhi) Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The reserve covers an area just a little over 958 sq km in the southern part of Western Ghats.

The Annamalai Tiger Reserve is a part of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot and supports many endemic species of mammals, reptiles, butterflies and flora in these mountains. The region is also known for some of the highest peaks in the Western Ghats range with the highest Mount Annamalai at 2483 m. The average elevation ranges from 300 m to over 2000 m and is the most important watershed for many water bodies in Tamil Nadu

History

The region of the Annamalai reserve was used extensively since the 1800s, for timber and as sites for coffee and tea plantations, by Indian and European planters. Slowly through the 1900s, these forests were reserved and there were several restrictions on tree felling in this region. In 1974, Annamalai was declared as a wildlife sanctuary and a part of it was notified as a National Park in 1989. Then, in 2006, the combined area of the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park was included in Project Tiger as Annamalai Tiger Reserve.

The name came from the visit by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, in 1961.

Weather And Best Time To Visit

The weather of the Annamalai range is subtropical and moist most of the year. However, there are high temperatures and humidity during summer and heavy rainfall during monsoon that prohibits any visit to the area. The best time to visit the Annamalai Tiger Reserve is between January and May.

Places To Visit

Apart from the Tiger Reserve, the Annamalai Range has a slew of adventure tourism activities.
The Elephant Camp at Kozhikamudhi, is an absolute delight for tourists.

How To Reach

By Air

The nearest airport to Pollachi is at Coimbatore (40 km).

By Train

Coimbatore Railway Station is an important hub and is well connected to the rest of the country.

By Bus

Regular state operated buses ply from Coimbatore to Pollachi.

Flora And Fauna

Flora

The forests of theAnnamali Tiger reserve are intense mix of wet and moist evergreen, semi-evergreen, broad leaf deciduous, grass and thorny shrub and marshlands. Over 2000 plant species have been recorded here, from commercial hardwoods, to flowering plants and medicinal herbs.

Fauna

Birds

There are over 250 bird varieties in the Annamalai Tiger Reserve, with both resident and migratory types. Out of these there are 14 species unique to the Western Ghats.

Mammals

The mammalian species here are numerous and include some of the endangered and critically threatened animals. Apart from Tiger, Elephant, Leopard and Liontailed Macaue, other important animals are Rusty-Spotted Cat, Smooth-Coated Otter, Sloth Bear, Malabar Spiny Dormouse and Nilgiri Thar.

Wildlife

The wildlife of the Annamalai Tiger Reserve is most diverse and it is rightly one of the Biodiversity hotspots in the world. Apart from the birds and large animals, there are several species of amphibians like turtles, frogs and tortoises. Reptiles like snakes and lizards also occur here in great variety. The butterflies in this region have been recorded from 315 species and out of these 44 species are found nowhere else in the world.

Timings

The Annamalai Tiger Reserve entry time is from 6 AM to 6 PM

Where To Stay

There are several good rest houses in the villages in and around the Annamalai Tiger Reserve.

General Information

Visitors should always arrive at Pollachi village and obtain their permits from the office of the Wildlife Warden.

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