->Shyamal at 13:20, 27 November 2021

2021-11-27T13:20:56Z

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{{Short description|Wildlife sanctuary and national park in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Anaimalai Tiger Reserve
| alt_name = Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
| iucn_category = IV
| photo =Uday Kiran Elephants quarrel.jpg
| photo_caption = Asian elephants in Anamalai Tiger Reserve
| photo_width =
| map = India Tamil Nadu
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in Tamil Nadu, India
| map_width =
| location = [[Coimbatore District]], Tamil Nadu, India
| nearest_city =
| coordinates = {{coords|10.4170|N|77.0567|E|display=inline, title}}
| established = 1976<ref name="IGWSNP">{{cite web | title = Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park | publisher = Tamil Nadu Forest Department | url = http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/np_ignp.html | access-date = 6 September 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071102053921/http://www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/np_ignp.html | archive-date = 2 November 2007 | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="sen">{{cite web |url=http://www.kolkatabirds.com/south/topslip.htm |title=Top Slip Indira Gandhi National Park |last=Sen |first=Sumit K |work=Birds of India |publisher=Sumit K Sen |access-date=4 December 2009 |location=Kolkata |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131222314/http://www.kolkatabirds.com/south/topslip.htm |archive-date=31 January 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body =Tamil Nadu Forest Department
| world_heritage_site =
| url =http://www.forests.tn.gov.in/
}}
'''Anaimalai Tiger Reserve''', earlier known as '''Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park''' and as Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary, is a [[Protected areas of India|protected area]] in the [[Anaimalai Hills]] of [[Pollachi]] and [[Valparai]] taluks of [[Coimbatore District]] and [[Udumalaipettai taluk]] in [[Tiruppur district|Tiruppur District]], Tamil Nadu, India. The Tamil Nadu Environment and Forests Department by a notification dated 27 June 2007,<ref>Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, Part II—Section 2, No. II(2)/EF/333/2007, dated 27 June 2007, page 240.</ref> declared an extent of 958.59 km2 that encompassed the erstwhile IGWLS&NP or Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary, as Anaimalai Tiger Reserve under the [[Wildlife Protection Act, 1972]]. According to the [[National Tiger Conservation Authority]], the Reserve presently includes a core area of 958.59 km2 and buffer/peripheral area of 521.28 km2 forming a total area of 1479.87 km2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://projecttiger.nic.in/Ntcamap/108_1_32_mapdetails.aspx|title=Aanaimalai Tiger Reserve|date=29 June 2017|website=National Tiger Conservation Authority|access-date=2 July 2017}}{{dead link|date=August 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The park is named after former Prime Minister of India [[Indira Gandhi]] who visited the park on 7 October 1961. The main tourist facilities are located in the northeast corner of the park at "[[Topslip]]", so named because of the local 19th century practice of sliding [[timber]] logs down the hills from here.<ref name="ngc">National Geographic Channel, OFF THE BEATEN TRACK, Indira Gandhi National Park
[https://web.archive.org/web/20051215120010/http://www.nationalgeographic.co.in/explore/otbt/igandhi_national_park.asp]</ref>

==History==
{{Maplink|from=Anamalai_Tiger_Reserve.map|type=shape |frame=yes|zoom=9|frame-lat=10.4|frame-long=77.1|stroke-width=1|frame-align=right |text=Boundary of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve}}
By the mid-1800s, large tracts of [[Valparai]] plateau in the Anamalais were under intense tea or coffee [[plantation]]s after [[deforestation]] of the natural forests. By 1866 two-thirds of the plantations were owned by Europeans and the remaining by Indians from coastal towns. Since most native inhabitants either refused to work or were inefficient workers, labour for plantations was brought from the plains of Tamil Nadu to clear forests and grow coffee.

Some parts of the forest however were reserved for timber including large areas around Top Slip. This part of the Western Ghats, under the [[Madras Presidency]] were exploited extensively for teak which was supplied to the [[Bombay Dockyard]] for [[Indian maritime history#British Raj -- Modern Period|shipbuilding]] and later for [[railroad tie]]s.<ref name=indiannavy>{{cite web |title=Bombay Dock |work=Early History (Indian Navy) |publisher=National Informatics Center |author=Government of India |access-date=14 March 2012 |url=http://indiannavy.nic.in/history.htm#Bombay%20Dock |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310172325/http://indiannavy.nic.in/history.htm |archive-date=10 March 2010 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 1855, this area came under [[sustainable forest management]] for teak plantations by the pioneering efforts [[Douglas Hamilton]] and [[Hugh Cleghorn (forester)|H. F. Cleghorn]] of the new [[Tamil Nadu Forest Department]]. In the early 1900s, protection of the Karian shola was also ensured.<ref name="NCTA">{{cite book |title=Status of the Tigers, Co-predators, and Prey in India |author1=Jhala Y.V. |author2=Qureshi, Q. |author3=Gopal, R. |author4=Sinha, P.R. |year=2011 |publisher=National Tiger Conservation Authority, Govt. of India and Wildlife Institute of India |place=New Delhi, Dehradun |access-date=13 March 2012 |url=http://www.projecttiger.nic.in/whtsnew/Tiger_Status_oct_2010.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120232451/http://www.projecttiger.nic.in/whtsnew/Tiger_Status_oct_2010.pdf }}</ref>

The area was notified as Anaimalai [[Protected areas of Tamil Nadu#Wildlife Sanctuaries|Wildlife Sanctuary]] in 1974. of its unique habitats at 3 places – Karian Shola, Grass hills, Manjampatti Valley were notified as a National Park in 1989. The {{convert|108|km2|sqmi}} National Park is the core area of the {{convert|958|km2|sqmi}} Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary.<ref name="IGWSNP"/> IGWS was declared a [[Project Tiger]] [[Tiger reserves of India|tiger reserve]] in 2008.

The Park and the Sanctuary is under consideration by [[UNESCO]] as part of The Western Ghats [[World Heritage Site]].<ref>UNESCO, World Heritage sites, Tentative lists, Western Ghats sub cluster, Anamalai, 2007. [https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2103/]</ref> The Sanctuary and the [[Palni Hills]] in [[Dindigul District]] form the Aanaimalai Conservation Area.<ref name="Sajeev">
{{citation
|url=http://www.wii.gov.in/download/volume3(ACA).pdf
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215212843/http://www.wii.gov.in/download/volume3(ACA).pdf
|url-status=dead |archive-date=2005-12-15
|author=Sajeev T.K. |title=Management of Forests in India for Biological Diversity and Forest Productivity- A New Perspective |publisher=WII-USDA Forest Service Collaborative Project Grant No. FG-In-780 (In-FS-120)
|work=Volume III Anaimalai Conservation Area (ACA) |pages=169–190 |display-authors=etal }}</ref>

[[File:Indira Gandhi NP.jpg|thumb|IGWS&NP, Grass Hills area, Konalar Hut {{coord|10|19|22|N|77|04|17|E}}]]

The Steering Committee of [[Project Tiger]] granted approval in principle to inclusion of Indira Gandhi WLS and NP under Project Tiger in 2005.<ref>Protected Area Update (Oct. 2005) "''New Tiger Reserves''" (No. 57) p.17 [http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/resources/paupdate/57oct05.doc#tn] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017134707/http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/resources/paupdate/57oct05.doc|date=17 October 2006}}</ref> IGWS was declared a Project Tiger sanctuary in 2008.<ref name="MOEF">{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=44799|title=Eight New Tiger Reserves|date=13 November 2008|work=Press Release|publisher=Ministry of Environment and Forests, Press Information Bureau, Govt. of India|access-date=31 October 2009}}</ref> Continuance of 'Project Tiger' in Anamalai Tiger Reserve for FY 2010/11, at the cost of {{INR}} 23,547,000 was approved by the [[National Tiger Conservation Authority]] on 31 August 2010.<ref name="NTA">
{{citation
|url=http://projecttiger.nic.in/sanction/S2010/Sanction_Anamalai_2010_11.pdf
|title=Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme 'Project Tiger' Administrative Approval for funds release to Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu during 2010–11.
|work=No. 4-1(32)/2010-PT
|author=Dr. Rajesh Gopal, APCCF (PT) and Member Secretary (NTCA)
|publisher=National Tiger Conservation Authority
|date=31 August 2010
|place=New Delhi
|access-date=2 February 2011
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106080448/http://projecttiger.nic.in/sanction/S2010/Sanction_Anamalai_2010_11.pdf
|archive-date=6 January 2011
}}</ref>

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 {{convert|3253|km2|abbr=on}} and an estimated [[metapopulation]] of 42 tigers.<ref name="NCTA"/>

==Geography==
[[File:Jambu Malai 2.JPG|thumb|Jambu Malai]]
Mean annual rainfall is between {{cvt|500|mm}} in the south western fringes and {{convert|4500|mm}} on the north east.
This Sanctuary is an important [[drainage basin|watershed]] for the agricultural economy and power supply in other parts of Tamil Nadu. Major reservoirs like [[Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary#Geography|Parambikulam Reservoir]], [[Aliyar Reservoir]], [[Thirumoorthy hills|Thirumurthi Reservoir]], [[Aliyar Reservoir#Hydrography|Upper Aliyar Reservoir]], [[Kadambarai]], [[Sholayar Dam]] and [[Amaravathi Dam]] are fed by the perennial rivers which originate from the Sanctuary.<ref name="IGWSNP"/>

{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2021}}
The sanctuary has six administrative ranges;
*[[Pollachi]]: a southern suburban town of [[Coimbatore]], its range headquarters at Anaimalai Farm: {{cvt|109.72|km2}}
*[[Valparai]] Water Falls: {{cvt|171.5|km2}}
* Ulandy Top Slip: {{cvt|75.93|km2}}
* [[Amaravathi Reservoir]]: Amaravathi Nagar: {{cvt|172.5|km2}}
* [[Udumalpet]]: {{cvt|290.18|km2}}.
IGWLS is adjacent to [[Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary]] to the west. The core area of [[Manjampatti Valley]] is a {{cvt|110|km2}}with a [[drainage basin]] at the eastern end of the park. Manjampatti Valley is contiguous with [[Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary]] to the south and the proposed [[Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park]] to the east. The National park enters [[Ernakulam district]] and [[Idukki district]] of Kerala (the [[Pooyamkutty]] forest), from the tribal settlement of [[Edamalakudy|Edamalakudy, Idukki]].
Elevation ranges between {{cvt|340|m}} and {{cvt|2513|m}}.

==Flora==
[[File:Anamalai TR - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Dry deciduous forest in Anamalai Tiger Reserve]]
[[File:Safari @ Anamalai Tiger Reserve - panoramio (3).jpg|thumb|Moist deciduous forest]]
The park is home to a wide variety of [[flora (plants)|flora]] typical of the southern [[Western Ghats]]. There are over 2000 plant species, of which about 400 species are of prime medicinal value. The diverse topography and rainfall gradient allow a wide variety of vegetation comprising a mix of natural and human-made habitats. The former includes [[tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests]] and [[East Deccan dry evergreen forests]], montane [[shola]]-grassland, [[tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest]], [[Deccan thorn scrub forests]] and [[marsh]]es.{{cn|date=November 2021}}

[[South Western Ghats montane rain forests]] occur at higher elevations and are interspersed with montane grasslands, forming the shola-grassland complex. Much of the original forest now contains introduced [[teak]] [[plantation]]s. [[Bamboo]] stands and [[reed bed]]s occur in the natural forests. Tree cover is provided by ''[[Hopea parviflora]]'', ''[[Mesua ferrea]]'', ''[[Calophyllum tomentosum]]'', ''[[Vateria indica]]'', ''[[Cullenia]] excelsa'' and ''[[Mangifera indica]]'', [[Persea#Classification|Machilus macrantha]], ''[[Alstonia scholaris]]'', [[Tetradium|Evodia meliaefolia]], ''[[Ailanthus]]'' and ''[[Bombax ceiba]]'' and ''[[Eucalyptus grandis]]''. The area is home to ''[[Podocarpus]] wallichianus'', a rare south Indian species of conifer.<ref name="IGWSNP"/>

==Fauna==
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2021}}
[[File:Leopard in Anaimalai Tiger Reserve JEG2388 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Leopard in Anamalai]]
[[File:Lion-tailed Macaque DSC8107.jpg|thumb|Young lion-tailed macaque]]
[[File:Gaur and WTKingfisher.JPG|thumb|Gaur and white-throated kingfisher]]
[[Threatened species]] of [[mammal]]s in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve include [[Bengal tiger]], [[Indian elephant]], [[Indian leopard]], [[dhole]], [[Nilgiri tahr]] and [[lion-tailed macaque]], [[Indian brown mongoose]], [[gaur]], [[Malabar spiny dormouse]], [[Nilgiri langur]], [[rusty-spotted cat]], [[sambar (deer)|sambar deer]], [[sloth bear]] and [[smooth-coated otter]], [[Indian giant squirrel]], [[Indian leopard]] and [[Indian pangolin]].

Animals of [[least concern]] here include: [[golden jackal]], [[leopard cat]], [[jungle cat]], [[chital]], [[Indian muntjac]], [[Indian spotted chevrotain]], [[wild boar]], [[gray langur]], [[bonnet macaque]], [[Asian palm civet]], [[small Indian civet]], [[Indian grey mongoose]], [[striped-necked mongoose]], [[ruddy mongoose]], [[grey slender loris]], [[Indian giant squirrel]], [[Indian crested porcupine]], [[Indian pangolin]], [[Indian porcupine]] and [[Indian palm squirrel]].

Over 250 species of birds have been identified in the park. Some of the most important groups are [[cormorant]]s, [[duck]]s, [[teal]], [[darter]], [[partridge]], [[quail]], [[jungle fowl]], [[Galloperdix|spurfowl]], [[Indian peafowl]], [[parakeet]]s, [[hornbill]]s, [[Megalaimidae|Asian barbets]], [[drongo]]s, [[Old World oriole|oriole]]s, [[shrike]]s, [[warbler]]s, [[Old World flycatcher]]s, [[woodpecker]]s, [[leafbird]], [[trogon]]s, [[kingfisher]]s, [[stork]]s, [[egret]]s, [[Lesser fish eagle]]s, [[hawk eagle]]s, [[Harrier (bird)|harriers]], [[falcon]]s, [[Kite (bird)|kite]]s, [[owl]]s and [[nightjar]]s. It is also home to the near-threatened [[great Indian hornbill]].

It is home to 15 of 16 species of [[Endemic birds of South Asia#Species endemic to the Western Ghats and associated hills|birds endemic to the Western Ghats]].

Amphibians and Reptiles include many rare and endemic forms. Some endemic amphibians are the ancient and elusive [[purple frog]], [[Indirana phrynoderma|toad skinned frog]], [[Indirana leptodactyla|thin-legged leaping frog]] and [[Micrixalus silvaticus|forest torrent frog]], [[Micrixalus gadgili|Gadgil's torrent frog]]s, [[Rhacophorus pseudomalabaricus|Anaimalai flying frog]], [[Rhacophoridae|bush frog]]s and [[caecilian]] such as the [[Uraeotyphlus]]. Reptiles include the [[Python molurus|Indian rock python]], [[king cobra]]s, [[Bengal monitor]]s, [[Trimeresurus malabaricus|Malabar pit viper]]s, [[Trimeresurus macrolepis|Large-scaled green pit viper]]s, [[Hebius beddomei|Nilgiri keelback]]s, some 20 species of curious little [[Uropeltidae|shield tail snake]]s, [[Calotes grandisquamis|large-scaled forest lizard]]s, [[Calotes nemoricola|Nilgiri forest lizard]], [[Draco dussumieri|flying lizard]]s, [[Ristella]] skinks [[Vijayachelys silvatica|forest cane turtle]]s, and [[Travancore tortoise]]s.

315 species of [[butterflies]] belonging to five families have been identified in the [[Anaimalai Hills]]. 44 are endemic to the Western Ghats.<ref>Discover Wild – Care for the Anamalais, retrieved 14 May 2007 [http://www.discoverwild.org/igwls.html the INDIRA GANDHI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY & NATIONAL PARK] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928100317/http://www.discoverwild.org/igwls.html |date=28 September 2007 }}</ref>

==Tribal Communities==
The IGWS has significant anthropological diversity with more than 4600 [[Adivasi]] people from six tribes of [[indigenous people]] living in 34 settlements. The tribes are the [[List of Scheduled Tribes in India|Kadars]], [[List of Scheduled Tribes in India#Tamil Nadu|Malasar]]s, [[Paliyan|Pulaiyar]]s, [[Mudugar]]s and the [[List of Scheduled Tribes in India#Tamil Nadu|Eravallan]] (Eravalar).<ref name="Kaadars">{{cite web |title=Tribes of the Anamalais |work=Discover Wild – Care for the Anamalais |url=http://www.discoverwild.org/tribes.html#kaadars |access-date=14 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726000425/http://www.discoverwild.org/tribes.html#kaadars
|archive-date=26 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Sajeev2">{{cite report |author=Sajeev, T.K. |title=Management of Forests in India for Biological Diversity and Forest Productivity- A New Perspective |publisher=WII-USDA Forest Service Collaborative Project Grant No. FG-In-780 (In-FS-120) |work=Volume III Anaimalai Conservation Area (ACA)
|pages=169–190 |display-authors=etal |url=http://www.wii.gov.in/download/volume3(ACA).pdf
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215212843/http://www.wii.gov.in/download/volume3(ACA).pdf
|url-status=dead |archive-date=2005-12-15}}</ref>

===Kozhikamudhi Elephant Camp===
[[File:Indira Gandhi WS & NP.jpg|thumb|Tourists with Kumki elephant from Kozhikamudhi Elephant Camp after Elephant Pongal at Top Slip]]
In 1997, annual celebration of Elephant [[Pongal (festival)|Pongal]] at Top Slip was begun. For Pongal, several decorated elephants stand in front of the Pongal pot to mark the commencement of the celebration. The elephants are fed [[Jaggery#In South Asia|chakkarai]] pongal, banana and sugarcane while lined up behind a barricade, so tourists can have a close look. In 2011, Elephant Pongal was celebrated on 18 January.<ref name="VS">
{{citation
|url=http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/19/stories/2011011962930200.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123201158/http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/19/stories/2011011962930200.htm
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=23 January 2011
|title= Jumbos in all majesty at Top Slip|author=V.S. Palaniappan|date=19 January 2011
|place=Chennai
|work=[[The Hindu]]
|access-date=10 February 2011
}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Anamalai Tiger Reserve}}
{{National Parks of India}}
{{Protected areas of Tamil Nadu}}
{{Coimbatore district}}
{{Tiger Reserves of India}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary And National Park}}
[[Category:Tiger reserves of India]]
[[Category:National parks in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Coimbatore district]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1976]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Geography of Coimbatore]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials to Indira Gandhi]]
[[Category:South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries of the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:South Western Ghats montane rain forests]]

Anamalai Tiger Reserve - Revision history

->Shyamal at 13:20, 27 November 2021