Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary

Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary Latest News

A faunal survey conducted recently in the Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary has added significantly to the biodiversity records of Kerala’s youngest protected area.

About Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located in the Malappuram District of Kerala.
• It is located on the western slopes of the Nilgiris.
• The name ‘Karimpuzha’ is derived from the Karimpuzha River, a tributary of the river Chaliyar. 
• The forest areas of Karimpuzha WLS form part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR).
• It forms part of the Nilambur Elephant Reserve (Nilambur ER), one of the four ERs notified in the country. 
• It shares a boundary with Mukurthi NP (Tamil Nadu) on the eastern side and Silent Valley NP (Kerala) on the southern side.
• The sharp topographical gradient of the hills, ranging from 40 m to 2550 m, is the primary reason for the unique biodiversity of the sanctuary.
• The nomadic tribes, the Cholanaikans, Cave men of Kerala, are living inside the Karimpuzha WLS. 
  • They form a small group of tribes with a total population of 217 individuals.
  • They are classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) by the Government of India.
• Vegetation: It is unique in Kerala for encompassing all seven forest types found in the state, including evergreen rainforest, semi-evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, subtropical savannah, subtropical hill forest, montane wet temperate forest, and montane wet grasslands.
• Flora: It supports rich flora, including teak, rosewood, bamboo, medicinal plants, and endemic orchids.
• Fauna:  
  • It harbors a wide variety of fauna, including endangered species like the Nilgiri Tahr, lion-tailed macaque, elephants, tigers, leopards, sloth bears, gaur (Indian bison), and diverse birdlife with over 150 species recorded. 
  • Its pristine forests also shelter endangered fish species like the Malabar Mahseer.

Source: TH

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