Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary

Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

A recent faunal survey conducted by the Forest Department, has reported 63 new species of odonates, butterflies, and birds in the Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary

• It lies in the Malappuram district in Kerala.
• Spanning approximately 227.97 sq.km, the sanctuary is situated on the western slopes of the Nilgiri Hills.
• The forest areas of Karimpuzha WLS forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR), recognized under the Man and Biosphere Programme of UNESCO. 
• Karimpuzha WLS shares a boundary with Mukurthi NP (Tamil Nadu) on the eastern side and Silent Valley NP (Kerala) on the southern side.
• The name ‘Karimpuzha’ is derived from the Karimpuzha River, a tributary of the River Chaliyar.
• The sharp topographical gradient of the hills ranging from 40 m to 2550 m is the primary reason for the unique biodiversity of the Karimpuzha WildLife Sanctuary.
• The area merges with landscapes of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• Steep hills, deep valleys, marshy lands, grasslands, and shola forests with hillocks, and perennial water sources combined with altitudinal variations make it an ideal habitat for a variety of flora and fauna.
• The nomadic tribes, Cholanaikans, Cavemen of Kerala, are living inside the Karimpuzha WLS. 
  • They are classified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) by the Government of India. 
• Flora: It is the state’s only forest stretch where seven forest types found in the state are all present, including evergreen rainforest, semi-evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, sub-tropical hill forest, sub-tropical savannah, montane wet temperate forest and montane wet grasslands. 
• Fauna: It is home to a variety of fauna endemic to the Western Ghats, including the Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed macaque, slender loris, tiger, gaur. 

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Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary FAQs

Q1. In which Indian state is the Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary located?

Ans. Kerala

Q2. Which national parks share a boundary with Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans. Silent Valley National Park and Mukurthi National Park

Q3. What is a major reason for the high biodiversity in Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary?

Ans. Sharp topographical gradient and diverse forest types.

Source: TH