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=== Pichavaram Mangrove Forest === | === Pichavaram Mangrove Forest === | ||
Pichavaram (MadBoon) has a well-developed mangrove forest. Pichavaram consists of a number of islands interspersing a vast expanse of water covered with green trees. The area is about 1100 hectare and is separated from the sea by a sand bar. The Pichavaram mangrove biotope, consisting of rare species like [[Avicennia]] and [[Rhizophora]] presents a special attraction, with its peculiar topography and environmental condition. It supports the existence of many rare varieties of economically important shell and finfishes.pichavaram mangrove forest is located between two prominent estuaries, the [[Vellar River (Northern Tamil Nadu)|Vellar estuary]] in the north and [[Coleroon]] estuary in the south. The Vellar-Coleroon estuarine complex forms the [[Killai]] backwater and Pichavaram mangroves. The backwaters are interconnected by the Vellar and Coleroon river systems and offer abundant scope for water sports such as rowing, kayaking and canoeing. There are more than 400 water routes available for boating. | Pichavaram (MadBoon) has a well-developed mangrove forest. Pichavaram consists of a number of islands interspersing a vast expanse of water covered with green trees. The area is about 1100 hectare and is separated from the sea by a sand bar. The Pichavaram mangrove biotope, consisting of rare species like [[Avicennia]] and [[Rhizophora]] presents a special attraction, with its peculiar topography and environmental condition. It supports the existence of many rare varieties of economically important shell and finfishes.pichavaram mangrove forest is located between two prominent estuaries, the [[Vellar River (Northern Tamil Nadu)|Vellar estuary]] in the north and [[Coleroon]] estuary in the south. The Vellar-Coleroon estuarine complex forms the [[Killai]] backwater and Pichavaram mangroves. The backwaters are interconnected by the Vellar and Coleroon river systems and offer abundant scope for water sports such as rowing, kayaking and canoeing. There are more than 400 water routes available for boating. | ||
==Wildlife sanctuaries and National parks== | |||
===Arignar Anna Zoological Park=== | |||
[[Arignar Anna Zoological Park]] (abbreviated AAZP), also known as the Vandalur Zoo, is a zoological garden located in Vandalur, a suburb in the southwestern part of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, about 31 kilometres (19 mi) from the city centre and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Chennai Airport. It is India's largest zoo in terms of area covering 1,300 acres. Its previous location was set up in 1855 and was the first public zoo in India. It is affiliated with the Central Zoo Authority of India.[8] Spread over an area of 602 hectares (1,490 acres), including a 92.45-hectare (228.4-acre) rescue and rehabilitation centre, the park is the largest zoological garden in India. The zoo houses 2,553 species of flora and fauna across 1,265 acres (512 ha). As of 2012 the park houses around 1,500 wild species, including 46 endangered species, in its 160 enclosures.[9] As of 2010, there were about 47 species of mammals, 63 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles, 5 species of amphibians, 25 species of fishes, and 10 species of insects in the park.[10] The park, with an objective to be a repository of the state's fauna, is credited with being the second wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu after [[Mudumalai National Park]]. | |||
===Mudumalai National Park=== | |||
[[File:Tiger Safari in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu.JPG|thumb|Tiger Safari in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu|195x195px]] | |||
[[Mudumalai National Park|Mudumalai]] which translates into "Ancient Hill Range" is situated at the base of the [[Nilgiri Hills]], is the home to several endangered and vulnerable species such as the [[Nilgiri Tahr]], [[Indian elephant]], [[Tiger]], [[Gaur]], [[Flying Squirrel]], [[Sambar (deer)|Sambar]], [[Nilgiri langur]] and [[Indian Leopard]] to name a few. It shares its borders with [[Kerala]] and [[Karnataka]] and is separated from Karnataka's [[Bandipur National Park]] by the Moyar river.<ref name="ecoi">{{cite web | url=http://www.ecoinfoindia.org/lldb_mudumalai_ws.php | title=EIC | access-date=27 October 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224213607/http://www.ecoinfoindia.org/lldb_mudumalai_ws.php | archive-date=24 December 2009 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> | |||
The lowest point of the sanctuary is the picturesque Moyar Waterfalls. Its rich topography | |||
is as varied as the vegetation, which ranges from dense deciduous forests in the west to scrub jungles in the east interspersed with grasslands, swamps and bamboo brakes. | |||
=== Mukurthi National Park === | |||
Mukurthi National Park [[Protected areas of India|protected area]] located in the western corner of the [[Nilgiris (mountains)|Nilgiris]] [[Plateau]] west of [[Ootacamund]] [[hill station]] in the northwest corner of [[Tamil Nadu]] state in the [[Western Ghats]] mountain range of [[South India]]. The park was created to protect its [[keystone species]], the [[Nilgiri tahr]]. The park is characterised by [[montane grasslands and shrublands]] interspersed with [[shola]]s in a high altitude area of high rainfall, near-freezing temperatures and high winds. It is home to an array of [[endangered]] wildlife, including [[royal Bengal tiger]] and [[Asian elephant]], but its main mammal attraction is the Nilgiri tahr. The park was previously known as Nilgiri Tahr National Park. The park is a part of [[Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve]], India's first [[International Biosphere Reserve]]. As part of the Western Ghats, it is a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] since 1 July 2012 | |||
=== Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary === | |||
This is a major Forest Tourist Attraction known as water-bird sanctuary, located not far from Chennai. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is a 30-hectare protected area located in the Kancheepuram District of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The sanctuary is about 75 kilometres from Chennai on National Highway 45, south of Chengalpattu. The best time to go is October–March, when cormorants, herons, ibis, storks, pelicans and other birds migrate here. Accommodation is available at the Forest Department Rest house. | |||
=== Anaimalai Tiger Reserve === | |||
The steering committee of [[Project Tiger]] granted approval in principle to inclusion of Indira Gandhi WLS and NP under Project Tiger in 2005. IGWS was declared a Project Tiger sanctuary in 2008. Continuance of Project Tiger' in Anaimalai Tiger Reserve for FY 2010/11, at the cost of Rs. 23547,000, was approved by the [[National Tiger Conservation Authority]] on 31 August 2010. This tiger reserve, together with the several other contiguous protected forest and grassland habitats, is the core of the Parambikulum-Indira Gandhi tiger habitat landscape complex, with tiger occupancy area of about 3,253 km<sup>2.</sup> | |||
===Sathyamangalam Tiger reserve=== | |||
This tiger reserve was formed as 42nd tiger reserve of the country and houses 55 tigers. This tiger reserve has the largest population of elephants in the state. This is the largest wildlife sanctuary of Tamil Nadu. The tiger reserve offers wild safari to visitors. The visitors can see many wild animals (depending upon the season), as well as the Moyar river and the green Talamalai plateau. It is located about 70 km from Coimbatore | |||
=== The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park === | |||
The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park is a [[Protected areas of India|protected area of India]] consisting of 21 small islands ([[islet]]s) and adjacent [[coral reef]]s in the [[Gulf of Mannar]] in the [[Indian Ocean]]. It lies 1 to 10 km away from the east coast of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[South India]] for 160 km between [[Thoothukudi]] and [[Dhanushkodi]]. It is the core area of the [[Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve#Conservation|Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve]] which includes a 10 km buffer zone around the park, including the populated coastal area. The park has a high [[Biodiversity|diversity]] of plants and animals in its [[Marine (ocean)|marine]], [[Intertidal zone|intertidal]] and near [[shore]] [[Habitat (ecology)|habitats]]. Public access inside the Park is limited to glass bottom boat rides | |||
===Guindy National Park=== | |||
[[File:Monkey at Guindy National Park.jpg|thumb|190 px|Monkey at the Children's Park, [[Guindy National Park]]]] | |||
Originally a part of the private forest reserve surrounding the [[Raj Bhavan, Chennai|Guindy Lodge]] in the suburbs of [[Chennai]], a portion of it was declared as the [[Guindy National Park]] in 1977 and is one of the very few national parks situated within a metropolis. | |||
The park is the home to the endangered [[Blackbuck]] and the [[Spotted deer]] and has over 130 varieties of birds including raptors such as the honey buzzard and the white-bellied sea eagle. Bird-watching is popular in winter, when migrant birds visit the region. Also located within the park is the [[Chennai Snake Park Trust|Snake Park]] where one can see the [[King Cobra]], the [[Python (genus)|Python]] among other reptiles. | |||
For ex-situ conservation, about 22 acres (8.9 ha) of the Guindy National Park has been carved out into a park known as the Children's Park and play area at the northeast corner of the national park with a collection of animals and birds. The park attracts more than 700,000 visitors every year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/np_gnp.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-09-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928004229/http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/np_gnp.html |archive-date=28 September 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> | |||