The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Nature Park of South India

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Nature park is the most popular biosphere reserves in India and the major National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary of South India. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve area is located at the foothills of the famous Nilgiris hills or blue mountains at the meeting point of two majestic mountain ranges the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats and shares boundaries with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala states. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve includes many National parks and wildlife sanctuaries and also declared a Tiger Reserve. The reserve is home to fauna includes over 100 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles, about 39 species of fish, 31 amphibians and 316 species of butterflies.

National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve:

Mudumalai National Park

The famous Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to endangered Indian elephants,Royal Bengal Tigers, Indian Leopards and vulnerable Gaur along with Indian Giant Squirrel and Red Giant Flying Squirrel and critically endangered species of birds such as Indian White-rumped Vulture,Malabar grey Hornbill and unique near threatened Black-and-orange Flycatcher.

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

Mudumalai wildlife Park is divided into five sub ranges Masinagudi,Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota. Mudumalai wildlife sanctuaries is one of the first wildlife park established in India and declared a Tiger Reserve, It is an important wildlife habitat and Wildlife Corridor between Bandipur National Park,Nagarhole National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. The Reserve forests offers shelters to four big cats of India Bengal tiger, Indian leopard,deers, Jungle cat and Leopard cat along with Bonnet Macaque, Gray langur, Sloth Bear,Indian wild dogs Dhole and the Striped Hyena.

Bandipur National Park

The Bandipur National Park is a tiger reserve located in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka and know for its Biomes and dry deciduous forest. The tiger reserve is one of the most famous national park in south India and along with Mudumalai,Wynad and Nagarhole it is the largest protected area of south India. Bandipur National Park is home to many species of India’s endangered wildlife such as Indian giant squirrels, muggers, Indian rock pythons, Spectacled cobra, four-horned antelopes,Indian monitor lizards and the large bovine Gaur or Indian bison.

Nagarhole National Park

The Nagarhole National Park is located between the Kodagu and Mysore district in Karnataka state. Nagarhole National Park is heavily forested Project Tiger tiger reserve and cover with small water streams, big mountain hills, deep valleys and spectacular waterfalls. Its is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park ranges from foothills of the Western Ghats to down the Brahmagiri hills towards Kerala. Nagarhole National Park is home to Purple heron,darter,Indian rock python, stripe-necked mongoose along with tiger, leopard,wild dogs and striped hyena.

Wynad Wildlife Sanctuary

The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is an second largest wildlife park in Kerala and declared a Project Elephant, Elephant Reserves. Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary is situated between the Mysore and a small town Sultan Bathery in Wayanad district of Kerala. Wayanad Animal sanctuary support a wide range of flora includes maruthi, bamboos, rosewood, karimaruthi and fauna such as panthers, jungle cats, deer and bears along with AviFauna few wild birds owls, woodpeckers, jungle fowls,Peacocks and Peafowl.

Mukurthi National Park

The Mukurthi National Park is situated western part of Nilgiris Plateau in the Western Ghats mountain range. Mukurthi National Park is the major protect area of ungulate The Nilgiri tahr,the state animal of Tamil Nadu. Mukurthi protected area is provide Habitat for sholas and Montane grasslands Wildlife and the flora are numerous endemic plants scapigerous, Alchemilla indica and Impatiens. Fauna includes mostly the grassland mammal species including Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Marten, Nilgiri langur,Sambar deer, Barking deer and Wild water buffalo. Avifauna consists mostly of hill birds includes Whistling Thrush,Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Pipit along with predatory birds the Black Eagle, Black-winged Kite and Kestrel.

Silent Valley National Park

The Silent Valley National Park is the core area of the Nilgiri International Biosphere Reserve and part of World Heritage Site,the Western Ghats. The high diversity of Silent Valley National Park support wide range of wildlife and home to the largest population of endangered species Lion-tailed Macaque, Malabar Giant Squirrel and Indian Flying-fox or Greater Indian Fruit Bat. One of the best place to spot rare and endangered species of birds like Long-legged Buzzard,Red winged crested cuckoo,Malabar Pied Hornbill,Nilgiri Wood-pigeon,the Black bulbul and Pale harrier.

Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary

The Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and a major wildlife corridor between Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve of the Western Ghats and Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary of the Eastern Ghats. Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary is a notable wildlife corridor, mix of flat land, grass land and mountain peaks between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats. Its is fourth Project Tiger Tiger Reserve of India and a notable sanctuary to diverse populations of the animals of two habitats such as great Indian Elephants,royal Bengal Tigers,Indian leopards and other wild boar, Sloth bear and striped hyenas.